My Money Mission

Christmas Spending: How did you do?

2011-12-26T06:31:00.000-08:00

You know the old Christmas song, "Christmas is coming, the Goose is getting fat....."

Well, this is how the song should go now that it is December 26th: "Christmas is over, the Goose is very slim....." LOL

I saved, I splurged (a little), and am now spent. Time to start all over again for next year!

How did you do with your Christmas spending?

A.Marie

UPDATE TO ORGANIC ACRES POST....MOOLALA ROCKS!!

2011-11-25T10:15:00.000-08:00

So, I posted this morning about our Organic Acres fiasco and how I sent an email to Moolala requesting my money back. I expected to hear back from them next week. That is the usual time it takes, it seems, for a company to respond to a complaint.

Not Moolala, however!!

I emailed them around 8:00ish this morning, and at 8:30 am I received an automated reply that said I would get a personal response within two days. At 11:00 am this morning, I received this email:

I'm so sorry you have had this experience with one of our merchants. This is certainly not what we want for our members!

Organic Acres have had several issues over the summer and fall and we had hoped they would be able to resolve their issues, but it now seems unlikely that they will be able to fulfill the rest of our members' orders. I know this was a great deal and it’s disappointing that it’s fallen through.

Because this transaction is more than 90 days old our payment processor is unable to refund to your credit card. We can send you a refund check or you can use the funds to buy another voucher.

I've refunded $19.00 to your Moolala Rewards Account

To request a check all you need to do is login to your account and fill out this form (you can use the link below to go directly to the right page) and you'll receive a check within 10-14 days.

Or, you can use these funds to purchase deals you'll receive an additional 5% bonus instead of the normal 2%.

Again, I'm sorry it turned out this way. If there is anything else I can do for you just reply to this email and let me know.

Thanks!

Pamela

for the Moolala Member Experience Team

How's that for Customer Satisfaction?! I clicked the link that was provided, and YES! The money is back in our Moolala acount! Hubby and I are very, very happy to have our money back (okay, I know it was only $19.00, but around here, that's a lot of dough)!!

I am extremely happy and very grateful to Moolala, and after this experience, I won't hesitate to recommend their deal site to anyone!! Like I said in the blog title,

"Moolala Rocks!"

ORGANIC ACRES SCAM TOTALLY RESOLVED

2011-11-25T07:02:00.000-08:00

Way back in April, Moolala had an Organic Acres deal that I blogged about and a few of you signed up for:

http://www.mymoneymissiononline.com/2011/04/19-for-taste-of-farm-sampler-box-plus.html)

Well, I am here to tell you that it appears we all were fooled....that it was just a big scam....and if you haven't received your box, which you most likely did not, there is someone that you can contact, at Moolala, to get your money back.

This is the official email that I found on the Moolala site:

OFFICIAL ANSWER:

Hi, Jon Dale here, I'm the Chief Happiness Officer at Moolala. I wanted to provide you with an update on the situation with Organic Acres. Unfortunately, due to the overwhelming response and circumstances beyond their control, Organic Acres has not been able to fulfill many of our Members' orders.

As you know Moolala guarantees every voucher you buy. As a result if you’re one of the ones who hasn’t received your veggies we’d like to issue you a refund. Please contact us at support@moolala.com.

If you didn’t receive your veggies we’re really sorry, we know this was a great deal and it’s disappointing that it’s fallen through.

If you have any questions please email us.

Thanks,

Jon Dale
Chief Happiness Officer at Moolala

He calls himself the Chief Happiness Officer...Now THAT is FUNNY because I know that I sure am NOT HAPPY with them!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

2011-11-24T05:43:00.000-08:00

HAVE A VERY BLESSED THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!

SOUP SUPPER

2011-11-06T14:35:00.000-08:00

I love to buy a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store....I can serve the chicken for supper one night, along with potatoes and a vegetable, and then I can use what is left from the chicken to make soup! If you don't care about the extra fat in your stock, you could make this all in one day. However, I like to "de-fat" my stock, so it takes a bit longer.

Ingredients:

1 leftover store-bought rotisserie chicken

1/2 bag (6 oz) extra wide noodles

2 quarts chicken broth (boxed/canned or from bouillon)

2 big carrots, peeled and sliced into rounds or half-rounds

salt and pepper

In a large stockpot, place the chicken along with the sliced carrots. Add enough water to cover the chicken and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. I like to simmer until the chicken comes off the bones easily. I then take the chicken out of the broth, remove all of the meat, and return the bones and skin to the water. Put the meat back in the fridge and simmer the stock for about 4 hours.

**I've found that if you put the leftover chicken pieces in with the bones while you're making broth, the chicken meat tends to lose nearly all it's flavor. Better to save it & add in later.

After the stock is finished, strain and cool. Then I refrigerate the stock overnight and the next morning, I take off the fat that has risen to the top. I save this in a container, in the freezer, to make suet for the birds. *Recipe for that coming soon!

I place the stock back on the stove and add the canned broth (if you want a thinner soup, you can add more broth after the noodles are cooked). After the stock has started boiling, I add the noodles and cook until tender. Then I cut the chicken up into cubes and add it to the pot. Heat on low until chicken is warmed through. Salt and pepper to taste and Voilà!! SUPPER!!!!

A.Marie

THE CUBS HAVE THE GOAT; THE CARDS HAVE THE SQUIRREL

2011-10-08T04:38:00.000-07:00

LOL!!!

Have a great Saturday, everyone!!!! :)

GIVEAWAY AT THE OTHER BLOG

2011-09-28T10:23:00.000-07:00

I have a giveaway going on at my other blog! Click here to enter!!! :)

Hope you all are having a terrific day! It's is sunny here in Smalltown today but I am keeping an eye on the weather. Yesterday, my house cat was having playtime outside (that's what I call it...playtime! LOL) and I didn't realize that it had started raining. I was on the phone with my Mom, and all of the sudden, I heard this strange noise. I looked outside and yelped in the phone, "Oh No! Gotta Go! It's raining and my baby is outside!"

Good thing my Mom knows me all too well....and still loves me in spite of the fact that I call my cat my "baby" and I sometimes phone her to tell her how her "Grandcat" is doing; hahahaha....

Anyways, I ran out there as if on fire and started calling her name. I heard this pitiful mewing and there she was, under the deck, looking like a drowned rat. I crawled under there to get her and ran back inside. Poor baby....she was so scared that she had messed all over herself. *Sigh* The things that we Mothers have to do for our fur-babies.....

After a cleanup, she was all dry and happy. She crawled up on the couch upstairs and promptly fell asleep. She stayed asleep the rest of the afternoon, all evening, and most of the night. By this morning, she was her frisky, onery self again!

I let her go outside for playtime again, but this time, I'm keepin' an eye on Ol' Mother Nature. As much "fun" as that was yesterday, crawling around under the deck to get her, I'd rather not repeat that experience! ;)

A.Marie

WHEN IT DOUBT, JUST BEAT IT!

2011-09-22T05:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, Okay, so this post ISN'T about Michael Jackson....but it IS an awesome song, isn't it??!! ;)

So, yesterday, I found this awesome-sounding recipe online that I decided I just HAD to make (or die trying). Which almost happened.

Oh, the recipe looked simple enough: just take some softened butter and sugar and beat until light and fluffy. That went just fine.

Next, add an egg. Check. Then, add the flour, baking soda and cinnamon. Check.

Fold in apples and pecans. Uncheck. This is where something went wrong. You see, I had this simply BRILLIANT idea to use already chopped and cooked apples that I had leftover in the fridge. I didn't see any reason why cooked apples couldn't be used in place of chopped raw apples. I mean, come on! An apple is an apple, in my book. But, I forgot one teeny-tiny detail. When blended with the blender, cooked apples tend to fall apart into a mushy-like substance, thus rendering the entire cake-apple mixture into an undesirable messy conglomeration. I just about had a heart attack!! UGH! It looked TERRIBLE!!! I couldn't just throw it away...I HAD to find a solution to this problem. I actually could feel myself start to panic. What to do....what to do......

Well, I figured that I had already made a mess, so I just had to keep on going.....I set my mixer on high and just beat the stuffin' out of it. It started looking really whippy and frothy and then I poured into the baking pan, smoothed it out, and shoved it into the oven. And hoped for the best.

After the timer went off, I checked and it was nowhere near done. It was still wiggly and jiggly and I shoved it back in. For 10 more minutes. Then for another 10 minutes. Then I decided to get radical.

I set the oven temp lower and just let it sit in there for about a 1/2 hour. When I checked it again, I was pleasantly surprised! It had cooked to a wonderful ooey-gooey almost-like-bread-pudding consistency...and the taste was DIVINE! SCORE!!

So, here is the recipe that is aptly titled: Golden Apple Snack Cake. I have renamed it to Alisa's Apple Mess....LOL ;)

Ingredients
1/2 c. butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 1/2 cups chopped peeled tart apples
1/2 cup pecans

Directions
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg. Combine the flour, baking soda and cinnamon; gradually beat into the creamed mixture. Fold in apples and pecans. If using cooked apples, beat the stuffin' out of it.

Transfer to a greased 9 inch square baking pan. Bake at 350 for 32-38 min. (or 52-58 minutes it you are trying to replicate my mess....then bake another 1/2 hr. at 250!) or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes clean. Cool on a wire rack. Yields 9 servings unless feeding a teen son and hubby. Then it yields only 2 servings. LOL

Meanwhile, eat your yummy dessert and listen to some more of MJ! Ain't life GRAND?! ;)

YUMMY EGGPLANT (AND THE ANSWER TO KEN. B'S QUESTION)

2011-09-20T06:21:00.000-07:00

I LOVE cooking with eggplant. And, I have found a recipe that is absolutely amazing and, best of all, my hubby likes it! So, it's a winner in my book! :)

Here it is: Tomato and Eggplant Casserole

1 medium eggplant
1 T. finely chopped onion
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 T. butter
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 t. freshly ground black pepper
1/2 t. oregano
1/2 c. dry bread crumbs
1 large tomato, cored and cut into 6 medium-thick slices
1/2 c. grated cheese

Directions:

Peel the eggplant and slice 1/4" thick. Put in a saucepan with the onion, salt, and 1/2" boiling water. Cover and simmer about 10 minutes until tender. Drain well and mash. Blend in the butter, eggs, pepper, oregano, and bread crumbs. Turn into a buttered 1½ -2 quart casserole. Cover with the tomato slices. Sprinkle with the cheese and salt and pepper. Bake in a preheated 375° F. oven for 25 minutes until lightly browned. Serves 6.

************

I am also feeling really, really bad.....I never responded to Ken B's question on my flash freezing post. It's not that I was ignoring you, Ken. I just didn't see your question until recently. For that, I apologize. I will now attempt to answer your question about preserving the nutrients in fruit and vegetables and how quickly they have to be frozen in order to achieve this.

I did alot of research on the computer, and it appears that there are alot of differing opinions as to what vitamins are preserved during the flash freezing process and which vitamins are lost. In fact, the opinions are so differing that it was very difficult to come to a conclusive answer. That is why I am including some of the links that I found. In this way, you can form your own opinion about the pros/cons of flash freezing and/or blanching and then flash freezing. I just know that after reading the articles, I was slightly cross-eyed! :)

http://www.veganforum.com/forums/showthread.php?366-Vitamin-loss-canning-freezing-amp-more

http://www.eufic.org/article/en/food-safety-quality/safe-food-handling/artid/freezing-foods-quality-safety/

http://www.experts123.com/q/what-is-flash-freezing.html

http://www.ehow.com/info_8373496_snap-freezing-mean.html

Have a wonderful day, Everyone!!!

A.Marie

Kielbasa, It's What's for Dinner!!

2011-08-30T04:22:00.000-07:00

(photo courtesy of Group Recipes.com)

I have been trying to use up what is in my freezer and I came across a package of Kielbasa. Since I wanted to make this in my crock pot, I started googling. This is what I located at Group Recipes:

Slow Cooker Kielbasa Stew

4 cups coarsely chopped cabbage
3 cups peeled, cubed potato
1-1/2 cups sliced carrots
1 pound cooked kielbasa, sliced
1/2 teaspoon dried basil, crushedshopping list
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 14-ounce cans reduced-sodium chicken broth

In a 4- to 5-quart slow cooker combine cabbage, potato, and carrots. Top with kielbasa.
Sprinkle basil, thyme, and pepper over kielbasa. Pour chicken broth over all.
Cover; cook on low-heat setting for 7 to 9 hours or on high-heat setting for 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 hours.

Doesn't it sound delish?? What have you made in your Crock pot lately?

A.Marie

MY CANNER RUNNETH OVER

2011-08-25T11:53:00.000-07:00

(image courtesy of SimplyCanning.com )

See the picture right above? That harmless looking green bean? Well, not to complain or anything, but that innocent-looking vegetable is taking over my kitchen.... literally. I don't know what happened out there in that garden, but those green beans must have decided to give it one last hurrah, because they are bustin' out of their rows....I canned some this morning, there is more to can on the kitchen table and still more to pick out in the ol' garden patch.

But, again, I'm not complaining. I am very glad that Mother Nature graced us with "her" presence a couple of days ago and gave us that nice soaking rain. It just made the green beans a little too happy, that's all I'm sayin'! LOL ;)

Okay, enough blogging....back to the canner I go!

What are all of you doing today?

The Things I Do For My Cat

2011-08-14T05:48:00.000-07:00

WHAT! WE'RE OUT OF WET CAT FOOD??

Okay, Seriously....someone get me some kitty prozac so I can calm my cat down! He absolutely LOVES his tasty wet cat food "treat" that I give him throughout the day. But, since I was lazy and didn't make it to the store, I am all out of his favorite tasty yummies.

So, I have been searching the internet to come up with something that I can make at home that will sort of resemble canned cat food. After reading a ton of articles, I came upon one that said boiled chicken is fine for cats so long as it wasn't cooked with onions, garlic and salt.

YES! I can do that! I have alot of chicken in my freezer (breasts to be exact) and I am going to boil some, cool them, chop it really fine, and see if Mr. Picky aka thirteen-year-old-geriatric-fussy-pants-cat will eat it.

I'll let you know!

BAND CAMP 2011

2011-08-10T07:09:00.000-07:00

Band Camp is over for the summer and it's now time to move on to something else, like weeding the garden, picking the tomatoes and putting up corn for the upcoming winter. Time marches on and life is a continuous ebb and flow, like the seasons, like the ocean's waves.

Since this is teen son's last year of high school, there will be many more "lasts," but then he will start college and that will start many more "firsts." There can't be an ending without a beginning, so as we are going through this last year of high school, I will be thinking about how this all began in Kindergarten and is ending with his Senior year and will begin again (with college). Life....gotta love it!!! ;)

(walking off the field at the end of band camp 2011)

I also noticed something when I was busy volunteering at this year's band camp. This was my last camp that I will be actively volunteering at all day, every day, and I didn't feel the need to "prove myself" like I did at the past camps. I just did what I could from day to day and didn't leave with the feeling that I didn't get enough accomplished. I just felt more relaxed and at ease. Does that make sense?

I enjoyed getting to know some of the freshman Mom's and really look forward to being around them during the next few months as the band performs at their band competitions. Then, when the last and final competition comes to an end, and my duties as the Snack Queen are over, I'm gonna take my invisible crown, place it on the head of my successor, raise my water bottle to her in a toast and bid that part of my life adieu! :)

(My trusty water bottle that has lasted for 4 band camps. I felt it deserved a photo!) LOL

Have a great day everyone! I'm off to husk some corn, cut if off the cob, blanch it and bag it for the freezer! It's gonna be alot of work but my family will enjoy it when the snow starts flying!!

DON'T "DO THE OSTRICH"

2011-08-06T07:06:00.000-07:00

I have been busy, busy, busy this week doing the Band Mom "thing" for band camp. My teen son is a Senior this year, so this'll be his (and my) last camp. Someone asked me if that made me sad, but I was like, "not really." I mean, it's been fun and all, but nothing stays the same, and it shouldn't. Time marches on and we just have to adapt and move on right with it. I enjoyed volunteering in the grade school, then the upper grade school, then the junior high, and now the high school. And, when that is over, it'll be time to say, "C'est la vie" and embrace the next phase.

Which leads me to what happened last evening at the annual potluck that is held after the first week of Band Camp. It's usually a fun time meeting and greeting new Freshman parents and catching up on what is happening with fellow band parents. So, hubby, son, and I were sitting with hubby's sister, and hubs was telling us that he had chatted with this other band mom and had said to her, "Can you believe that your son is a Senior?" (Now, keep in mind that our son is also a Senior, but we have a very different approach to this question than she did!)

She got really upset that my husband asked her that and he told me that she just "clammed up" and wouldn't say another word to him. When he told us about this little episode, I thought that she probably was just kidding around with him and decided to ask her about it when I saw her. So, as "luck" would have it, she walked right by our table just as he finished telling me this story. When she got by me, I said to her, "Hi! How are you doing!!!! Can you believe that your son and my son are finally Seniors?"

OH. BOY.

WRONG-O THING TO SAY.

BECAUSE HUBS WAS NOT KIDDING.

SHE GOT REALLY MAD.

IMMEDIATELY her friendly smile withered away to nothing and was replaced by an ugly, angry scowl. Her eyes turned cold as ice, her body language went from relaxed to stiffened as she clamped her lips firmly shut and stomped off. I could NOT believe it!! I shouted after her, "Hey, I was only kidding....seriously....are you really mad?" And, she didn't turn around at all. She just stiffly walked out of the building and went outside.

I was stunned.....so was everyone else sitting there.....The change in her, with that one sentence, was just incredible. I said to everyone that saw it, "Boy, I feel really bad. I really didn't think that she'd get THAT mad!" But, there was not much I could do to make it better. I decided to just go on with my meal and try to find her later and apologize.

Well, she came back into the room, stormed right over to where I was sitting, pointed at me and looked me straight in the eye and said with a very cold voice that held absolutely no emotion, "It's a good thing that you are a church going woman or I would say some words to you that you wouldn't want to hear." And, with that statement, she stormed off again.......

Me thinks that there is something not right with her "upstairs" and I am going to A.V.O.I.D. conversing with her for awhile. There is an obvious problem and I'm not willing to get myself all upset because of her. Both of our sons are graduating and that is a fact. Nothing can change that. She can "stick her head in the sand" and avoid the obvious, and that is her choice. But, that is not my choice. I am going to enjoy this last year, because this is truly the last high school year. I have no other kids in school.....teen son is the last one. I'm going to have a good time, enjoy the camaraderie (for the most part), do what I can to help with the competitions, volunteer at the music functions, and when it is all said and done, next May, and those Senior kids walk down that aisle with their cap and gowns on, I'll shed a few tears and then just turn my face to the future and not look back.

But, until then, there is much band mom "stuff" to do and I'm just doin' what I can and enjoyin' the fun! (and, for those of you who are wondering....I haven't touched a screwdriver yet since this last post! ;)

A.Marie

HAVE YOU EVER HAD

2011-07-27T10:02:00.000-07:00

......a moment in your life where you just wanted to have God open the floor and swallow you up?

.......where a big, fat Loser sign should be painted right across your forehead?

Oh.
My.
Word.

I had one of those days yesterday. Let's just say it involved me, the very willing band-helper-Mom that I am, a very frozen little office refrig, and a screwdriver. Yep, you heard me right. A screwdriver. And, I'm not talking the liquid kind. Although, after it was all said and done, and I managed to kill the fridge, if someone had handed me one, I would have gulped it down in about 2 seconds flat and said, "pour me another one...."

I have no idea what I was thinking....but, there in lies the problem..I obviously was NOT thinking (sound of hand smacking forehead)!!!

So, anyway....that has been my do-not-ever-want-to-repeat moment of my life. I am going to go for a drive with my son, and we are going to hit up the next-town's donut shop. A coffee and a sweet treat sound good to me right now! And I promise to stay away from any and all types of screwdrivers!! :}

A.Marie

Ham and Potato Chowder....It's What's for Dinner!!

2011-07-21T08:12:00.000-07:00

(Photo courtesy of Fix-It and Forget-It)

Doesn't that soup look AMAZING? I read about it how to make this ham and potato chowder over at Fix-it and Forget-It's blog and it sounds super simple to make. This recipe comes from their Fix-It and Forget-It Kids Cookbook,; I think that my daughter could even attempt this recipe.

What do you think? Does this sound yummy or what?!!

Don't forget: I am having a cookbook giveaway over at the other blog: My Money Mission Online. Go over and check it out!!!

HOT WEATHER MENU

2011-07-20T10:43:00.000-07:00

It is officially hot here in smalltown. The temp. is already 93 degrees and the heat index is 107 degrees. I am tempted to take an egg outside, crack it on the sidewalk, and see if it really IS hot enough to fry it. But, I'm just not that ambitious. So, I'll just surmise that perhaps it could work. If any of you feel inclined to try out the theory, feel free! Let me know the results!! LOL ;)

Anyway, even though we have a/c in our house, I really don't like to heat up the stove to cook. So, this is going to be my supper menu for today and possibly tomorrow:

Cold Sandwiches

Dilly Potato Salad or lettuce salads

Deviled eggs

Apple Slices

Ice Cream/Sherbet for dessert

What is your Hot Weather menu looking like??

I forgot to mention: I am having a cookbook giveaway over at the other blog: My Money Mission Online. Go over and check it out!!!

GOOD GRIEF! IT'S SUNDAY ALREADY!

2011-07-17T06:05:00.000-07:00

I just cannot believe that it is Sunday! This week has just flown by! Today I am going to church and then, this afternoon, I just might read a good book. It's supposed to be really hot out this afternoon, and I would rather sit inside my air-conditioned house. Yep, I am THAT kind of gal! No Heat for Me! ;)

Have a wonderful day, Everyone!!!

Monday, Monday

2011-07-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

It's Monday and I am going to be paying bills and balancing the checkbook. This is what I fully expect to have after I am done:

LOL ;)

How are you spending YOUR Monday??!!

A.Marie

Leaving to Get the Boy

2011-07-08T06:37:00.000-07:00

Well, it's time to leave for the Great State of Indiana to pick up teen son. His week at the vet clinic there is about over, and it's time for him to come home. He has learned alot from his experience there and has texted me, from time to time, about what he has seen and done.

For instance, he has been able to watch a surgery on a horse and view an ultrasound on a cat. He has seen doggy dentals, various animal examinations, been present when a woman's beloved family pet had to be put to sleep, observed an autopsy, and the list goes on and on. He's even experienced the mundane side of veterinary medicine: the mopping of floors and the cleaning of cages. From meeting other vets to becoming acquainted with volunteers and the maintenance fella, his horizons have been broadened and life skills have been acquired.

Some of the time he has felt "in the way" and unsure of himself. I have told him that this is perfectly normal; who of us hasn't experienced those very same feelings when put into a new, unknown situation. He has had to step out of his comfort zone, so to speak, and step into the unfamiliar.

I am looking forward to hearing more about his experiences and what all he has learned. But, for now, I have to continue with my own mundane work: packing of bags as we are going to be staying overnight at a hotel after we retrieve him. It'll be a little mini family vacay, and I'm excited!

Have a terrific Friday Everyone!!!

A.Marie

LIFE IN MY CORNER OF THE WORLD

2011-07-05T07:05:00.000-07:00

Okay, so life is a little strange here right now. My teen son left yesterday for a week-long internship at a vet clinic in Indiana. He is very interested in being a vet and this will be a good way for him to observe what "being a vet" is all about and to see if this is what he would like to pursue. I am glad that he has this opportunity but, to be honest, I miss him. This is his first time being away from home, for this long, by himself. I just keep reminding myself that all baby birds need to spread their wings and fly. That is how they learn and grow.

*Sigh*

So, why do I feel the tug on my heart? It's probably because he is my youngest and I don't have any other children behind him. He is growing up and wanting to move beyond the safety of the "nest" and that is perfectly natural and normal. I was his age once, and I well remember what it was like. That's probably the hardest part, because I know the ups and downs that he will face, as a young adult, and I want to protect him from all of that. But, I cannot, because he cannot finish growing up without some bumps and bruises along the way.

With that being said, I might not be able to always be with him, but I can sure pray for him. And, I do. Every day. And, this week, it'll probably be more like every hour. I'm reminded of this quote by Stormie Omatian that is in the book, "The Power of a Praying Parent,"

Praying for our children doesn't mean that nothing will ever go wrong in their lives. But when it does, we don't have to beat ourselves up for not being perfect parents. Besides, it's not being a perfect parent that makes the difference in a child's life, for there are no perfect parents. It's being a praying parent that makes a big difference. And that's something we can all be."

My children are gonna grow up and I'll be right there, every step of the way, in prayer! :)

A.Marie

YUMMY DILLY POTATO SALAD

2011-07-02T05:41:00.000-07:00

My neighbor gave me some fresh dill the other day. After browsing all over the internet for a new and different potato salad recipe, I stumbled across this one at www.food.com. This recipe sounds delish, and I cannot wait to prepare it!!

DILL AND SOUR CREAM POTATO SALAD

3 lbs unpeeled baby red potatoes (new potatoes)

2/3 cup mayonnaise

1 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon fresh dill or 1 teaspoon dried dill

2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley

salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Put potatoes in a large pan, cover with water, and boil until tender.

2. Drain, and cut into bite-sized pieces, leaving skins on.

3. Combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl.

4. Add hot potatoes, and mix until well coated.

5. Refrigerate overnight before serving.

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/dill-and-sour-cream-potato-salad-96253#ixzz1Qx0VTo5F

Extreme Couponing....helpful or harmful??

2011-06-28T07:13:00.000-07:00

Okay, I confess....I haven't watched even a single episode of that crazy new show on TLC...you know the one....Extreme Couponing! I see no reason to watch a show that basically teaches people how to coupon the wrong way. I also don't need 40 containers of mustard, 80 cartons of yogurt, 67 rolls of toilet paper and so on and so on. But, that is just my humble little opinion.

With that in mind, I was very interested in this article that I found on Yahoo.com called How to get the most from coupons. The article is part of a series related to being Financially Fit that is authored by Farnoosh Torabi. Check out more about her at http://www.farnoosh.tv/

Highlights of the article include new coupon procedures (because of Extreme Couponing) being implemented at both Rite Aid and Target, and Coupon Dos and Don'ts. There is also a link to the article, "Is Extreme Couponing Hurting Self Esteem?" by Leah Ingram on her blog Suddenly Frugal.

All in all, I found both the Yahoo article and Leah Ingram's article to be equally fascinating and very well written. Read them and tell me your thoughts!

A.Marie

Best Choc-Chip Banana Bread EVER

2011-06-25T05:39:00.000-07:00

I found this recipe for Banana Chocolate Chip Bread when I was trolling the internet for a way to use up all of my frozen bananas that kept hitting my hubby and kids on the head when they opened the freezer door! This recipe is FANTABULOUS!!! (my new word for fantastic and fabulous!) Take my word for it...make a double batch!!

Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

Serves: makes 1 loaf

Prep Time: 15 min

Total Time: 1 hour 15 min

You need 3 or 4 really nasty looking bananas for this recipe. Add chocolate chips to make it all taste wonderful.
Yes, you can add nuts too or instead... substitute a 1/2 cup of nuts for a 1/2 cup of chocolate chips...

Ingredients

3 or 4 Bananas- Brown and nasty is perfect

1 cup Sugar- maybe a little more

1 stick Butter - melted

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups unbleached flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips- ok... maybe a little more....

Instructions

Grease a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan. If you want to hedge your bets, cut a piece of parchment paper to fit in the bottom of the pan. Spray it.
Heat oven to 350 degrees

Put the bananas (the insides, not the peel) and the sugar in a mixing bowl. Mix on HIGH for a few minutes. Add the melted, cooled butter, eggs, and the vanilla. Mix it up, scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Add baking soda and flour, combine.
Add chocolate chips, mix it all up.

Scrape the dough into the loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour, until browned on top, and a toothpick stuck in it comes out clean.

Let the pan cool on a rack for 20 minutes or so.

Turn out onto rack to cool completely.

Slice and eat.

So, does this make you want to make banana bread today?? :)

A.Marie

FLASH FREEZING

2011-06-22T06:51:00.000-07:00

(Image courtesy of Google, as my camera is not cooperating this a.m.)

Since my little strawberry patch is producing so well, what we don't eat, I flash freeze. This way, I don't waste any of these little jewels and I can have them on hand if I decide to make smoothies or shakes. The method of flash freezing that I use is this:

For strawberries (or other berries) I rinse, cut the tops off, and cut in half (if they are very large). Then I lay the fruit out on a cookie sheet and freeze at least a couple of hours. Sometimes I forget and leave them overnight. Then I place them in bags and seal (using a straw to vacuum out the air).

Afterwards, I remove it from the freezer, let it sit on the counter for a few minutes, then use a spatula to transfer it to a freezer bag. Freezing the fruit on the sheet first causes them to harden so that they don't all stick together when placed in the bag. :)

I also like to use this method with bananas. Since we often have quite a few that don't get eaten right away, this method of freezing bananas is perfect for smoothies, because you don't have to thaw the banana to peel it before throwing it in your blender (therefore creating a thicker smoothie/milkshake). Just peel the banana, cut it into chunks, and prepare in the same way as above.

Note: if the bananas are really, REALLY ripe..you know what I mean...as in the skin is totally black looking and the fruit is mushy, I skip cutting it into chunks and just throw the entire banana in the freezer, skin and all. I use these bananas for bread, usually, as all I have to do is thaw them a bit, slip the skins off, and mash the fruit. (I have found that these over-ripe ones don't do as well for smoothies and shakes, though. It might just be me, but I find that it makes the drink taste odd!)

What have you flash-frozen lately? I know that you all have something interesting to tell me!!! :)

A.Marie

"Dad's Life" (Official Father's Day Anthem)

2011-06-19T08:31:00.000-07:00

Oh my.....this is hysterical!!! Check out the "Gas Station Glasses!!! LOL

Happy Father's Day!!!

GIVEAWAY AT THE OTHER BLOG

2011-06-15T15:59:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it has been crazy busy around my house. I thought that once school ended, I would have more time to play on the computer. It hasn't been working out that way!! LOL

Anyway, I have a Betty Crocker Gluten Free giveaway going on at my other blog My Money Mission Online. So, if you like giveaways and gluten free baking, head on over there and enter!!

Hope you are all having a good week. My teen son had knee surgery yesterday, and everything went well. He is now in the recovery mode and hopefully he'll be back on his feet in no time!!

A.Marie

HAPPINESS MOMENT

2011-06-10T08:58:00.000-07:00

Wow! Such an honor! I was mentioned in an article over at Taber's Truths. YIPEE!! Click to go on over there and read his post entitled, "Christian Family Life Today. There is definitely much "food for thought" in that article, and it ties in perfectly with what I try to do for my own family! Thanks for the Happiness Moment, Pastor Duke! :)

Have a wonderful Friday Everyone!!

A.Marie

DISNEY OR BUST

2011-06-06T06:01:00.000-07:00

Well, Today's the Day!! Hubby and Teen son are a headin' to Disney with the High School Band and Choir!! I cannot BELIEVE that this day has finally come! When teen son started band way back in the 5th grade, the band directors told them about this trip and the kids got so excited. Since the band only goes once every four years, my son and his friends figured it out that they would go at the end of their Junior year. That sounded sooooo far away! But, the big day has arrived and I'm still kind of in shock that it is, in fact, actually here!!

Where has the time gone??

So, at 11:30 a.m., those big ol' tour buses are gonna pull out of the high school parking lot, loaded with teens, directors, and chaperone's, and I might actually get a little teary-eyed. I'm not sad because they are leaving; it's just going to be a bit overwhelming to think that those kids on that bus were once starry-eyed little 5th graders who couldn't wait to go on this big trip and now they are almost all grown up!

I'll post some pics later on if I get a chance......

A.Marie

They march at Disney on Thursday....I wonder if Donald Duck will be there??!! LOL ;)

MY WEEKEND

2011-05-29T19:41:00.000-07:00

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
.

EMERGENCY READINESS KIT

2011-05-26T09:54:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-24T11:19:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-22T06:55:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-17T11:41:00.000-07:00

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

Groceries/Drug Store $600.00
Gas $300.00 (okay, I didn't laugh at this one!)
Restaurant/Entertainment $500.00 (I really laughed at this one!)
Cable/Cell/Phone/Internet $300.00
Department/Retail Stores $600.00
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

2011-05-15T08:29:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-09T08:16:00.000-07:00

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.

2011-05-05T12:24:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-04T04:55:00.000-07:00

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....

2011-05-02T08:09:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-01T06:58:00.000-07:00

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

A.Marie

MONDAY MORNING MONEY MUSINGS

2011-04-25T07:45:00.000-07:00

Definitely prepare a list before you go shopping. This will cut down on buying those "impulse items."

Look through Sale Ads and Clip Coupons. No, you don't have to be an extreme couponer and spend hours and hours clipping coupons. I know that I don't and I still manage to save quite a bit at the stores. I have a few favorite stores that I like to shop at. I browse the ads, look through my coupon stash, clip the ones that I'll be needing, and off I go. With just a little planning and preparation, it is possible to save at least 20% off of your bill. On some trips, that amount can be as high as 30-40%.

Buy from the Flyer. Grocery stores put their loss leaders on the front page of their store flyers to attract customers. The hope is that customers will buy other full price groceries but smart shoppers buy what's on sale. Plan your meals around the sales rather than decide what to have for dinner and shop for it. This can cut your food budget in half. Is chicken on sale this week? Then, that is what's for dinner. This has worked well for me.

Stock Up. To really save money on your grocery budget in the long term, buy non-perishable sale items in bulk. These items will store quite nicely in your pantry and it means that you may never have to buy certain items at full price again. Sales happen in cycles and, if you buy enough to get you to the next sale of the item, you can save significantly.

Eat in Season. Food that has to be shipped thousands of miles isn't cheap. You may have to pay $3.99 a pound for tomatoes in the winter when in the summer, you would pay $1.29. Going back to eating what is in season in your local area throughout the year will save your wallet. As an added bonus, in-season produce is often tastier.

Buy generic products whenever possible. I do not mind generic store brands if they can save me money. Find what works for you and switch to generic brands for at least a part of your grocery list.

Use grocery store bags to line trash cans. This may not work if you use a big trash can, but we use a small sized one for which the grocery bags are a perfect fit. This helps me save some money.

Use less laundry soap. Instead of filling the cup to full or overflowing, just add 1/2 the amount. The clothes get just as clean and the bottle lasts longer.

Eat at home more often. Life is busy nowdays, and if both hubby and wife are working, it can seem overwhelming to prepare and cook food at home. Start small and work from there. Invest in a crockpot; it'll literally pay for itself in no time at all. And the benefit of a nice, hot, home-cooked meal that is ready to eat when you get home is priceless!

Bottle your own water. This seems like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised at how many people buy into that "bottled is better" theory. If you don't like the taste of your tap water, invest in a filter for your faucet. In the long run, you'll save $$!

Do you have any tips to add to this list? Let me know!! :)

A.Marie

GOOD FRIDAY

2011-04-22T09:57:00.000-07:00

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

The emblem of suffering and shame;

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,

Has a wondrous attraction for me;

For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above,

To bear it to dark Calvary.

In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,

Such a wonderful beauty I see;

For 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,

To pardon and sanctify me.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,

Its shame and reproach gladly bear;

Then He'll call me some day to my home far way,

Where His glory forever I'll share.

Chorus

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross

And exchange it someday for a crown.

John 19:16-18 KJV Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. (17) And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: (18) Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

A.Marie

It's Never Too Early To Prepare.....

2011-04-19T08:01:00.000-07:00

I was reading over at Turbotax about ways to start preparing for your 2011 taxes....I know, I know...I can hear you groaning through the computer, but, seriously....just give these five tax tips a chance to make your life easier for next year!! :)

Tip 1: Lower your tax bill and save for retirement at the same time.
Tip 2: Maximize your match (and save on your taxes while you’re at it)
Tip 3: Save your receipts to maximize your deductions.
Tip 4: Read the newspaper (paper or digital)
Tip 5: Get in front of your changing tax situation.

A.Marie

TAX DAY FREEBIES

2011-04-16T07:02:00.000-07:00

Did you know that we can thank the District of Columbia for the extra three days to prepare and file yearly tax returns? That's because Emancipation Day, a holiday observed in the District of Columbia, falls this year on Friday, April 15. Therefore, by law, District of Columbia holidays impact tax deadlines in the same way that federal holidays do. That's the reason for the extra three extra days to file this year. Taxpayers requesting an extension will have until Oct. 17 to file their 2010 tax returns.

So, for those of you who have not yet filed, send a silent "Thanks!" to the DC! :)

Here are some Tax Day Freebies that should help take stress out of tax day! Check them Out!! And, a big thanks to Have Kids Will Coupon for this amazing list!!

Cinnabon: Two FREE Classic Cinnabon Bites on 4/18/11 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. as part of its Tax Day Bites promotion at participating locations. Details HERE

H&R Block: Procrastinate much? H&R Block will file your extension for FREE on 4/18/11 in case you run out of time. (Remember that any money you owe is still due April 18th!) Go HERE for more information.

HBO: Some cable companies will be offering a FREE HBO weekend 4/15/11 – 4/19/11. See if your cable company is participating and find other FREE deals throughout the year HERE.

HydroMassage: FREE Massage! That’s so exciting that I will say it again. FREE massage! Enjoy this generosity 4/14/11 through 4/18/11. Check the details and participating locations HERE.

MaggieMoos: FREE mini ice cream sunday on 4/18/11 from 3pm – 6pm. Details HERE.

Shred-It: Shred your important, but no-longer-needed documents at FREE Shred-It Community shredding events nationwide. Visit Shred-It’s calendar to find one near you.

Taco Del Mar: FREE taco at participating locations. Details HERE.

White Castle: 15% off any purchase through 4/19/11 with coupon.

If you haven't filed yet there are still some free online tax offers to get them done:*

TaxACT - Free Tax Preparation

H & R Block - Free Edition
Turbo Tax - Free Edition

(*Thanks to savings.com for the free online tax offers)

A.Marie

UPRINTING.COM GIVEAWAY!

2011-04-11T17:17:00.000-07:00

There's a new giveaway going on over at my other blog: My Money Mission Online. It's a UPrinting.com giveaway for 50 invitations.

But, Hurry! It ends this Thursday at Midnight CST!

A.Marie

10 HILARIOUS WAYS TO SPEND YOUR TAX RETURN

2011-04-07T06:50:00.000-07:00

This morning, I woke up feeling the need for laughter...seriously...sometimes I just crave something FUNNY! I also knew that I wanted to post something on this blog about tax time. It is already April 7 and the tax deadline is coming closer and closer....and for some people, that means REFUND (providing that the government doesn't shut down).....that's a whole 'nother story!)

Anyhoo....I was cruising the internet highway and found some really hilarious tips on spending your tax return over at Won't Change The World. I made a few changes here and there, to the original find. Hope you enjoy them!!

1. Give your tax return to me. Seriously! I'll spend it wisely!! ;)

2. Twinkies. Spend the entire return on Twinkies. I know food is often not a long term investment. Trust me when I say, Twinkies will last longer than you do. HA!

3. Adopt fifty cats. This is a win for everybody involved. The animal shelters are over crowded and the cats need a home. Some people spend all their lives becoming the Cat Lady (or Man), you can do it in a weekend!

4. Keep buying the same pair of pants from Goodwill and donate the pants back anonymously. Watch with pleasure as you confound the staff. The pants will become legend.

5. Spend the entire wad on stamps and thank you cards. Thank random people listed in the phone book for strange things. “Ted, love the chinchilla!”

6. Buy everyone at a bar a drink… of warm milk. Sing lullabies until you are kicked out.

7. Hire a bodyguard to follow you around work. When co-workers inquire, look around, tell them the location of your last vacation, touch your nose, and scamper away. Then use all your vacation and sick time to disappear for a while. Let one of your co-workers “discover” you in the parking lot, disheveled and in tattered clothing.

8. Married by Elvis in Vegas. Sometimes, memories are worth more than money.

9. Give it to your dog to invest...he/she could probably do a better job than some of those fancy-pants financial advisors....and, it'd be cheaper!! :P

10. Hand random strangers dollar bills...tell them it fell from the sky. Watch as everyone starts looking up. Walk away...far away... ;)

Feel free to add your own Funny below...Keep it Funny, though; anything serious will be deleted ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................>

HAHA!!! GOTCHA!! ;)

A.Marie

IT'S A FROG-WORLD, AFTER ALL

2011-04-01T07:08:00.000-07:00

imikimi - sharing creativity

I'm dedicating this to my blog pal, Lin, and all her froggy friends! LOL ;)

Have a terrific day, everyone....if you pull a prank, let me know....I LOVE a good prank! But, only the funny, harmless ones!! ;)

A.Marie

I FEEL THE NEED TO SLASH! (my auto insurance, that is!)

2011-03-31T06:10:00.000-07:00

Today, I was reading some blogs and I came across one that was written by SonyaAnn. She was talking about saving money on auto insurance, and I came away from her post Totally Inspired! It got me thinking about ways that I could save money on my family's auto insurance.

So, I started looking online for ways, and I found, "How to Save Money on Car Insurance" tips at eHow.com. Read them and let me know what you think. I am confused about #4 and #5:

1. First, shop around. If you have moved to a new area recently check different companies. Insurance companies have different rates for different areas.

2. Try to get your homeowners insurance and auto insurance from the same company if they offer a discount.

3. Ask for all the discounts like: no smoking, part time driver, good student discount, etc. Be sure to see what each company offers discounts for. Take notes when shopping.

4. Here is a big issue for some parents of teenagers (like me). If you do not have one car for each driver, put the teen on part time. If you have a car for each driver, put the teen as primary driver on the lowest rate car. I did not say cheapest car, I said lowest rate car. Just because a car is older and worth less it may have a higher rate than a newer car. *I am confused on this one. We were not able to do this with our current auto insurance. I'm not sure about this one.

5. If the teen rate is still outrageously high priced, then consider buying a old junker that has a low rate even if to sit in the driveway and insure and put the teen on as the primary driver of that vehicle. He or she is still covered on the other vehicles but the low rate is based on the car you bought for a few hundred dollars in your driveway. (Again, I am confused on this one.)

6. If you have the cash pay annually for a discount rather than monthly or quarterly.

7. Remember to get quotes every six months or so because everything is always changing.

8. This may seem ridiculous but consider the zip code when you are moving. Remember the rates in some zip codes are much higher than others even on your car insurance.

Now that you have read the above tips, what do you think of them? Give me your feedback and also your handy-dandy car insurance savings knowledge!!

A.Marie

EAT CEREAL GET FREE MONEY

2011-03-28T10:36:00.000-07:00

Wow! This is a pretty amazing deal! Send in 10 UPCs from participating Kellogg’s cereals, get a $10 pre-paid debit Mastercard. This offer is available while supplies last and there is a limit of 5 (yes!) Kellogg’s™ Gas Rewards Cards PER HOUSEHOLD. Must have your zip code to mail order. U.S. Military overseas send APO or FPO address. Promotion ends on 12/31/2011; letters must be postmarked by 12/31/2011 and received by 1/07/2012.

Participating Brands:

Kellogg’s All-Bran® Original cereal, Kellogg’s All-Bran® Bran Buds® cereal, Kellogg’s All-Bran® Complete® Wheat Flakes® cereal, Kellogg’s Smart Start® Strong Heart Antioxidant cereal, Kellogg’s Smart Start® Strong Heart Toasted Oat cereal, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes® cereal, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes® Touch of Honey cereal, Kellogg’s Raisin Bran® cereal, Kellogg’s Raisin Bran® Crunch cereal, Kellogg’s Raisin Bran® Extra! cereal, Kellogg’s Crispix® cereal, Kellogg’s Product 19® cereal, Kellogg’s Mueslix® cereal, Kellogg’s® Cracklin’ Oat Bran cereal, Kellogg’s® Lowfat Granola with Raisins cereal, Kellogg’s® Lowfat Granola without Raisins cereal, Kellogg’s® Fruit Harvest Strawberry/Blueberry cereal, Kellogg’s Rice Krispies® cereal 10 oz or larger, mix or match

I don't usually post coupons or deals over at this little blog (I save that for My Money Mission Online), but this is such a terrific money-saving offer that I thought I'd post it over here, also. I mean, who DOESN'T have cereal in their house, and who DOESN'T need a few bucks??

I know that I already have the Kellogg's Raisin Bran (about 4 boxes) and my folks have some at their house also. I figure I'll just keep on collecting and saving my UPCs until I have enough to send in.

Exclusive savings on Kellogg's® brand name cereals, when you visit the Grocery Coupon Center

How's your Monday going so far? It is sunny here, but chilly (37 degrees), so I am inside paying bills. I filled the bird feeders with fresh seed and the bird bath with fresh water, and I am being repaid with all kinds of gorgeous birdy trills and songs when I step outside my front door. Such a beautiful spring-time treat! :)

A.Marie

(*Thanks, Mashup Mom)

SUNDAY!!

2011-03-27T08:09:00.000-07:00

Sunday comments and graphics

A.Marie

UNCLE SAM WANTS YOU!

2011-03-24T06:15:00.000-07:00

Hellloooo!!!! After yesterday's "Blank Mind" syndrome, I am back in action today! My little mind just needed some R&R, or, more specifically, FA&S (fresh air and sunshine!) LOL

It was just absolutely GLORIOUS outside yesterday. The sky was blue and the air smelled wonderful. I hung out a load of laundry and then decided to pick up sticks. That led to bagging up some leaves and then pulling a few weeds. I was out there only about an hour or so, but it really did wonders to "unclog the ol' drain" in my mind! And, it's a good thing I had yesterday, because today it is THIRTY DEGREES here....yeppers, 3-0 degrees.....where did THAT come from?? UGH!!!

"Yesterday, All my troubles seem so far away.....now I long for Yesterday!" :)

Soooo.....now for today....

I was reading a great article at Life Inc this morning and the catchy title said, "Uncle Sam Wants You (to come get free tax help). Catchy, No??!! I was half expecting to see this:

But, No Such Luck......drats......I think that would have really made the article!! ;)

Anyway, the article went on to say this, "If you're overwhelmed by your federal taxes this year, the friendly folks at the IRS are offering their help this Saturday.

Nearly 100 IRS offices across the country will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to aid frustrated taxpayers. IRS personnel will be available to assist with tax return preparation, answer account questions and help with a variety of other issues."

The article further states: "To locate an IRS office that is open Saturday, click here"

To read the entire article, be sure and visit http://lifeinc.today.com.

If I didn't have my handy-dandy-just-in-the-town-down-the-road Tax Preparer, I would probably be one of those frustrated taxpayers that needed some help. If that is you, and there is an IRS office close by, maybe you should just bop on over there and take advantage of their assistance!

Since Old Man Winter has decided not to take a vacation yet, I am most likely going to stay inside and do some more bookwork. I really do wish that the "Old Man" would just go to a sunnier climate, say, Bermuda......maybe that would help with his grouchy disposition today! LOL

**A.Marie**

EVER HAD ONE OF THESE DAYS?

2011-03-23T09:24:00.000-07:00

Seriously Blank....I just have no idea what to blog about today....my mind is like a blank slate! And, that is very rare! My little mind ALWAYS has something to say.

So, I guess I'll just say HELLO EVERYONE and leave it at that!! LOL

**A.Marie**

Dealing With Financial Clutter

2011-03-21T07:38:00.000-07:00

For me, March 1 marked the official end of tax season. Since I filed our household's Individual Income Tax Return early, and I didn't have to file for an extension (which is a topic for another day), I can now close out Tax Year 2010 and focus on 2011.

How is the best way to start doing that?

My system is pretty straight-forward and easy to use. I have a 2-drawer filing cabinet that fits under my desk. I have hanging files with tabs that are in alphabetical order: ie bank statements, credit card receipts, medical bills, utilities, etc.

Whenever I get a bill paid, I file the receipt in the proper hanging file. Same goes for credit card statements, dental and medical bills, life insurance statements, and other "stuff" that needs a home during the year. That way, I have it right where I need it. This is my "Active" filing cabinet.

Then I have a larger filing cabinet where I store 2 years worth of tax years. This is my "Historical" filing cabinet. Since it is now tax year 2011, I cleaned out my 2-drawer filing cabinet and have those files in a box by my desk. I am going to go into my larger filing cabinet and take out Tax Year 2008 and put that into a Bankers Box. I'll label it with the proper tax year and store it. That way, I'll have Tax Years 2009 and 2010 in my larger filing cabinet.

I keep my records for 10 years. I know, I am probably anal, but that is what I do. I have storage space set aside in my house, so it doesn't take up alot of room. I keep 5 years in my pantry/laundry/storage room and 5 years in the basement.

If you want more information on how long to keep records, and what type of records you should be keeping, check out this informative article: http://www.irs.gov/publications/p552/index.html

That is my goal for this week: To get all of my records in order, purge what I don't need (this is where a top-notch shredder really pays for itself) and keep what is important, rearrange my filing cabinets so that the proper tax years are where they need to be, put the older, historical files in Bankers Boxes, and put those in their proper place.

How do you organize you financial records??

**A.Marie**

MAY THE "LUCK 'O THE IRISH" BE WITH YOU

2011-03-17T06:14:00.000-07:00

Myspace Patricks Day Graphics - More Patricks Day Images

I don't typically serve Corned Beef and Cabbage for St. Patrick's Day. I guess it's because my Mom wasn't fond of it, and never fixed it, and because her Mother never fixed it either. But, my Mom WAS, and STILL IS, very fond of desserts, and on special occasions like today, she would fix something "color-coordinated" to go along with the event. I remember her fixing green salads or desserts like the following:

Lime Fluff
1 pkg. unsweetened lime soft drink mix
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 (8 oz.) container whipped topping
1 chocolate cookie or graham cracker crust

Mix drink mix and milk, fold in whipped topping and place into crust. Cover and chill. You can make this without the crust, if you'd prefer.

Irish Ice Cream Pie Recipe: Green Clover Pie
Ingredients:
1 quart vanilla ice cream, softened
1 (12 oz.) can frozen limeade, thawed
2 drops green food coloring
1 (6 oz.) graham cracker pie crust

Directions:
Place the softened ice cream in a large mixing bowl. Pour the limeade in with the ice cream, then add the food coloring using more if you want a darker green color. Use an electric mixer on medium speed and beat the mixture until well combined.

Spoon the ice cream mixture evenly into the pie crust. Cover with lid or foil and freeze until firm, between 2 and 4 hours. Let stand at room temperature 10 minutes before cutting.

Top this ice cream pie with some freshly whipped topping and crushed green peppermint candies for a perfect ending to your St. Patrick's Day meal. This recipe serves 8.

What are you going to fix for this special day? Tell me, Tell me! Inquiring Minds want to know!! :)

Have a wonderful St. Paddy's Day, Everyone!!

**A.Marie**

Tell Me How Am I Supposed To Live Without You??

2011-03-16T07:27:00.000-07:00

My dryer is on the "fritz" and since I am trying to hold off on replacing it, I am hanging my clothes out on the line more often. I absolutely LOVE to hang clothes outside.....it is such a peaceful task to do. It's just me and the clothes and the repetitive motion of clipping and hanging them.

I grew up in a household where my Mother, who grew up on a farm, felt that the old ways were better then the newer ones. She said that the dryer was a luxury, not a necessity, and that hanging up clothes saved our family money. I never quite understood how something as simple as having "Mother Nature" dry your clothes could save you $$, but I "went along with her program" and didn't complain.

*I should also mention that we used this type of washer to wash all of our clothes...yep, that's right...I grew up doing laundry with an old-fashioned wringer washer. I'm just that good!! LOL ;)

Anyway, back to the dryer:

Since I've been married (19+ years now), I've had a dryer but have continued to hang clothes outside, mostly during the spring/summer. In the winter, I hang items in my laundry room to dry, for example, shirts and pants on hangers, small towels on a clip hanger, but for larger items, like towels, sheets, etc., I have to use the dryer due to not having enough space to hang them.

Now that nicer weather is coming (it is supposed to be around 58 degrees today), I am most likely going to hang everything that I can on my "solar dryer."

I use this to hang socks and hand towels:

And, this is what I hang the rest of the items on

I hope that all of you have a Good Wednesday! I'm going outside, now, to hang out my laundry! :)

**A.Marie**

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME 2011

2011-03-12T09:16:00.000-08:00

For most Americans, daylight saving time 2011 will start at 2 a.m. TOMORROW, Sunday, March 13, when most states spring forward an hour. Time will fall back to standard time again on Sunday, November 6, 2011, when daylight saving time ends. So, if you want to be on time for anything tomorrow, be sure and set your clock AHEAD before going to bed tonight! ;)

**A.Marie**

Think Spring!! It IS Coming! My tulips are already peeking up out of the ground...YAY!!

COLLEGE ILLINOIS GOING BELLY UP?

2011-03-08T07:04:00.000-08:00

For Five Long Years, hubby and I have scrimped, saved, and scrimped some more to fully fund our son's college fund. I had started researching college plans when my now-17-year-old was about 3 years old. I searched and searched for the best college savings vehicles, and the College Illinois 529 prepaid tuition plan appeared to be the best one. I sent away for the materials/application and I read and re-read it over and over again. I called the Plan Office and ~~bugged~~ inquired about everything that I could think of. But, *sigh,* it appears that all of my hard work might have been in vain.

According to this Chicago Business.com article, Illinois has the deepest shortfall of any such fund in the United States and is plowing money into unconventional — and some financial experts say high-risk — investments to close the gap. Great....Just Great.....My son is just now finishing his Junior year in high school and he is on track to graduate in May of 2012. The plan is for him to enter college the Fall of 2012. This is definitely NOT the type of news I wanted to read today!

This is an overview of the Illinois college (prepaid) savings plans:

When I signed for this plan, I was assured, by the Plan Office, that this money was safe, secure, and would be there when I needed it. I was told that this was a Contract and the only way it could be broken was if I (a) did not pay my monthly Plan Payment or (b) I initiated the paperwork to cancel the contract and take my money out (minus interest, of course).

I feel cheated and robbed at this point.....BUT, those of you who read this blog regularly know that I am not going to take this bad new lying down. I am going to call, and call, and call until I get some answers. Because, the only way to be informed, and stay informed, is to get the information "straight from the horse's mouth." So, that's what I'm going to do.

I'll keep you posted on what I find out. In the meantime, I would suggest that College Illinois take this phrase, "The pot of gold at the end of your child's college rainbow. Prepay and save on college tuition" off of their page. Because, the "pot of gold" might turn out to be coal.....

In the meantime, do any of you participate in your State's Prepaid College Plan? If so, is your money safe?

**A.Marie**

A GIVEAWAY FOR A WORTHY CAUSE

2011-03-03T16:10:00.000-08:00

I was over at Midget Momma.com and I this is what she has posted on her blog:

"I think this was worthy of a post and I really hope everyone looks and buys! A nine-year-old girl is making duct tape pencil cases and selling them on ebay to help her family raise money for the Susan G. Komen walk this year! These are super cute, would be great for your child for school or to carry some cash and an ID in, are ONLY $5 plus $1 shipping AND the money is going straight to helping cure breast cancer and allowing a little girl to raise it herself. Just go here to pick one up for yourself."

Well, after I clicked here to see what this was all about, I decided right there and then that I was going to offer Two (2) of My Money Mission readers a chance to WIN one of these awesome pencil cases!

Required Entry:

All you have to do is click here and check out her pencil cases on ebay. Decide which color(s) you would like your case to be done in. (1 entry)

Extra Entry:

Then, read more about her efforts at The 3 Day.org. Leave a comment letting me know what you learned. (2 entries)

This giveaway will be open until next Thursday evening (March 10, 2010) at 11:59pm (central time). I'll then get the shipping info from the two winners, and I will order and have them shipped directly to the winners. The winners will be chosen by random.org.

**A.Marie**

EcoSMART GIVEAWAY

2011-02-27T18:11:00.000-08:00

Head on over to My Money Mission Online to enter the EcoSMART Giveaway!

**A.Marie**

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

2011-02-26T09:05:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard of the expression, "An Elephant in the Room?" "Elephant in the room" is an English idiom for an obvious truth that is being ignored or goes unaddressed. The idiomatic expression also applies to an obvious problem that no one wants to discuss.

It is based on the idea that an elephant in a room would be impossible to overlook; thus, people in the room who pretend the elephant is not there have chosen to concern themselves with small and irrelevant issues rather than deal with the looming big one.

What do you do when the "Elephant in the Room" is a family member that is over-bearing, narcissistic, hateful, and downright rude, not to mention sneaky and stalker-ish. How would you handle this "Elephant?"

I should also mention that this "Elephant" gets very mean and nasty when confronted. "It" likes to lie "its" way out of situations or turn them around to make the other person look like the guilty party. Or, "It" goes from family member to family member, spewing all kinds of non-truths that "It" has twisted to suit "its" purpose.

If this was the jungle, this type of beast would probably not survive long....the other elephants would get their fill of "It" and take care of the problem......

However, this is not the jungle; it is real life and the Elephant in the Room is not going anywhere. "It" has taken up residence in our lives, and this Elephant likes the control.

Any thoughts on this???

*A.Marie*

YOUR 401K

2011-02-25T07:08:00.000-08:00

I've been doing alot of research lately, about 401k plans (since hubby has one through his work place), and I am finding it very fascinating.....

For example, did you know that the 401k plan got it's name from a subsection (k) of the Internal Revenue Code? I always wondered where they came up with the name! In 1980, 401k plans were widely adopted as retirement plans for American workers. These plans were an alternative to the traditional retirement pensions, which were paid by employers. The 401k basically shifted the burden for retirement from the employer to the workers.

Whereas the Defined Benefit Plan (Pension) did not cost anything to the worker (The money was normally only provided by the employer), the 401k plan required contributions from both the worker and the employer. However, to make the traditional 401k plan more appealing to the public, they were designed to be funded with pre-tax dollars.

Defined Benefit Plan (Pension):

One advantage of a 401K is that there is greater portability with funds in the plan. These funds can easily be transferred into an IRA or another retirement account.
One disadvantage of a 401k is that your plan does not offer guaranteed money at retirement. Instead, it offers a greater risk because funds are not protected by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and the funds are largely dependent on the positive growth and performance of the stock market. In troubled times like the present, this means you can see drastic drops in the value of people's 401k plan

401k:

One advantage to a Defined Pension Plan is that you are guaranteed money at retirement. This is the single biggest advantage of these pension plans because this money is promised by the employer and is guaranteed by the Federal Government.
One disadvantage is the Limited Availability. It can be harder and harder to find traditional pension plans since more employers do not like having to promise to pay this guaranteed money.

This past tax year (2010), hubby's employer has elected to not offer a company match of 3% but, instead, to only contribute 1%. I'm not complaining; I am thankful that hub's still has a job, but this definitely is not helping with our retirement savings. And, after reading that the first batch of workers to widely adopt the 401k style of retirement plan is beginning to retire, and the plans now appear to generally be falling short, I am not sure that this particular plan is the best for us. it might be time to bail out before the plan fees eat us alive!

According to a Feb 19, 2011 article in the Wall Street Journal, "the median household headed by a person aged 60 to 62 with a 401(k) account has less than one-quarter of what is needed in that account to maintain its standard of living in retirement." This according to a study commisioned by the Journal, and conducted by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.

Hmmmm....time to maybe rethink the Traditional 401k option and look into this: Roth 401k

In general, the difference between a Roth 401(k) and a traditional 401(k) is that the Roth version is funded with after-tax dollars while the traditional 401(k) is funded with pre-tax dollars. After-tax dollars represent money for which taxes are paid in the current year, and pre-tax dollars are those that do not represent federal taxable income in the current year. Typically, the earnings on Roth contributions will be tax free as long as the distribution is made at least 5 years after the first Roth contribution and the attainment of age 59 and one half, unless an exception applies.

However, adoption of Roth 401(k) plans has been relatively slow, and reasons for this include the fact that they require additional administrative recordkeeping and payroll processing. However, some larger firms have now adopted Roth 401(k) plans, and this is expected to spur their adoption by other firms including smaller ones.

Saving for retirement is something that everyone should be thinking about, and planning for; unless you are already retired. That is a whole different "can of worms" and I'll tackle that another day! :)

Seeking more information on various Retirement Vehicles? The World Wide Web is CHOCK-FULL of information...some of it good and some of it extremely out-dated.

As a general rule, I'm not reading any financial advice from sources that are older than 2010. That's right...2010. The rules of the "Savings and Retirement Game" are a changin', my friends, and we have to change right along with them. Some of the old tried-and-true methods that might have worked for previous generations are no longer working. We must adapt, change, and move on.....and hold on. Things might get worse before they get better! :}

Talk to me....how are you saving for Retirement??

*A.Marie*

(Info for this article was found in 401kadvice.org, wikipedia.com, ezinearticles.com)

CHIPPING AWAY AT DEBT

2011-02-23T14:34:00.000-08:00

So, I don't know if you've noticed the litte "debt" bar on the right hand side of this blog, but I just updated it: As of January, we have only $1,300 left to pay on it. I probably won't be able to make a big dent in it for a little while, since hubby is off of work due to his shoulder injury, but little by little, I will chisel away at it, dollar by dollar, until it is GONE! And, that will give me a sigh of relief.

But, no sooner will that debt be gone, then a new debt will appear. For some reason, this is just how life goes. I just can't seem to save enough to cover life's ups and downs. But, I do my best to spend frugally and wisely and to s-t-r-e-t-c-h my money as far as I can.

One way that I am cutting back on our expenses is by "shopping" from my stockpiled pantry and freezer and using only those items to cook/bake with. It is amazing what a person can do when they put their mind to it. Like today, for instance. I wanted to make some mashed potatoes to thicken my cheeseburger soup. (I don't like to make a roux...call me lazy!) HA! But, I didn't have any milk. DRATS!

Since I did not want to go to the store, because of my new way of "shopping from myself," I decided to scour around my pantry shelves to see what miracle I might find in there! And, I found it! Two cans of evaporated milk that I had bought on sale at Walgreens quite awhile ago and since then pushed to the back of the shelf. That milk made those potatoes taste wonderful, and it was just the trick to thicken my soup.

And, I figure I saved at least $20, because you know as well as I do that once a person enters the grocery store, there is ALWAYS something else to purchase.

So I now have a very frugal supper simmering on the stove and cash still in my wallet.

What are you doing to save a few $$ and free up some more $$ in your budget??

Come on, talk to me....you know you want to!!! LOL

**A.Marie**

LACK OF POSTING

2011-02-21T13:26:00.000-08:00

Hello there, dear readers! First of all, I want to apologize for my lack of posting on this blog; In January, I was able to buy the domain name www.mymoneymission.com, and that totally messed up this blog. Formerly, I had to use www.my-money-mission.com, because the other was unavailable and when it became available, I jumped at the chance to purchase it.

So, I believe that I now have all of the snags worked out and I am up and running again. *Whew* I hope I don't have to go through that again!

Anyway, I hope that all of you have been doing well and surviving the winter weather. Or, if you are a reader that gets to live in a warm state, I hope that you have been having balmy temperatures, blue, cloudless skies, and plenty of sunshine! Only a few more months, and that will be our weather in Illinois....I.Can't.Wait! :)

If there is a "silver lining" to the winter weather in my area, it forces me to get my files in order and my taxes done. Yep. My taxes are done, filed, and my refund is in the bank. This year, our refund has to be used for monthly bills, as hubby is off of work for about 2 more months (due to a shoulder injury that resulted in surgery and now weeks of physical therapy), so we need the cash. I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth, that's for sure. I am very thankful to have some necessary money, but this is usually not what I like to do with our refund.

Usually, I use our refund to build up our short-term savings account. I do this by putting the money in our ING direct account. Currently they are offering 1.10% interest, but it's better than what my bank is offering (a paltry .22%). Then, I put some of the refund in my children's ING direct accounts. This is for those expenses that come up during the year, like my son's calculator for school ($130.00) or my daughter's new tennis shoes ($60.00...she needs special ones for her feet). It just makes me feel better if I know that there is some extra cash for those "rainy day emergencies."

What do you do with your refund? One option that I would love to do, if I was able to, would be to do what I read over at bankrate.com. This is a terrific article on Certificate of Deposit investing strategies. My Dad and Mom are HUGE fans of CDs, as was my Grandma. I agree that they are a terrific fixed-income investment that is not subject to the ups and downs of the stock market.

My financial goal is to eventually be able to fully fund my Roth IRA, like this gal did over at Frugal Pursuit; that is my dream and I WILL accomplish this.....eventually. Then, I would like to try my hand at laddering CDs. This is going to happen......eventually.

But, isn't that what life is all about? Planning, doing, planning, doing, and more planning. I have the planning down pat....it is the doing that is tripping me up!

Have a great day everyone! As always, leave me a comment with your thoughts....I enjoy hearing from all of you!

**A.Marie**

Perricone MD Giveaway!!

2011-01-05T11:59:00.000-08:00

Head on over to my other blog: My Money Mission Online and check out the fabulous Perricone MD giveaway that am hosting!

**A.Marie**

ECOSMART GIVEAWAY ENDS TONITE 12/17

2010-12-17T10:20:00.000-08:00

There's still time to enter my EcoSMART Giveaway! It doesn't end until 11:59 CST Tonite! :)

**A.Marie**

2010-12-14T08:41:00.000-08:00

I read this article on Yahoo about tax changes you need to know.

I found it very interesting, as I am the one that does that majority of my family's taxes. I do take all of my paperwork to our wonderful tax preparer for him to input it all and make sure that I have done my homework correctly, so around this time of year, while everybody is fa-la-la-ing and ho-ho-ho-ing, I am also getting my receipts in order, tallying up columns, and crunching numbers. I don't know if I'd ever want to work for a firm that does taxes and audits again, but I do enjoy the work. It keeps my mind sharp and alert...errr...if that's even a possibility seeing that I am a parent of teens!! LOL

The ending of the article states,

"As you can probably imagine, the government has tinkered with the tax rules quite a bit more than this article describes. To see what other potentially beneficial changes have been made, check out a list called "Tax Changes for Individuals" at the IRS website. Who knows what other sorts of breaks you might unearth?"

**A.Marie**

**don't forget, there is still time to enter my EcoSMART giveaway!!!

I'M DREAMING OF A DAVE CHRISTMAS.....

2010-12-09T06:04:00.000-08:00

......Dave Ramsey, that is! lol

12 Deals of Christmas - $10 Envelope Systems

To get in on this deal, visit the Dave Ramsey Store!

This is For ONE DAY ONLY, (today, 12/9) and limited to only 3000, all envelope systems are $10 and include a FREE set of envelope refills (normally $4.95).

Over at My Money Mission Online, I am having an EcoSMART Giveaway! Come on over and check it out! :)
**A.Marie**

KIDS SAVINGS ACCOUNT WITH ING

2010-11-29T08:55:00.000-08:00

If you have been wanting to open a savings account for your kiddos, then now is the time to do so! Through November 28th, open a Kids Savings Account at ING DIRECT and they’ll give you $25 for FREE!

Click the link to read more about this:

http://hip2save.com/2010/11/open-kids-saving-account-and-get-25-for-free.html

I did this for my kids a few years back, and it is a totally legitimate offer!

**A.Marie**

IT'S TIME TO ANNOUNCE THE.....

2010-11-29T07:45:00.000-08:00

And the winner of the book, "365 Ways To Live Cheap" is Frances! Congratulations! I sent you an email, and as soon as I get your mailing address, I'll pop this little gem of a book in the mail!

**A.Marie**

My Money Mission

Christmas Spending: How did you do?

UPDATE TO ORGANIC ACRES POST....MOOLALA ROCKS!!

ORGANIC ACRES SCAM *TOTALLY RESOLVED*

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

SOUP SUPPER

THE CUBS HAVE THE GOAT; THE CARDS HAVE THE SQUIRREL

GIVEAWAY AT THE OTHER BLOG

WHEN IT DOUBT, JUST BEAT IT!

YUMMY EGGPLANT (AND THE ANSWER TO KEN. B'S QUESTION)

Kielbasa, It's What's for Dinner!!

MY CANNER RUNNETH OVER

The Things I Do For My Cat

BAND CAMP 2011

DON'T "DO THE OSTRICH"

HAVE YOU EVER HAD

Ham and Potato Chowder....It's What's for Dinner!!

HOT WEATHER MENU

GOOD GRIEF! IT'S SUNDAY ALREADY!

Monday, Monday

Leaving to Get the Boy

LIFE IN MY CORNER OF THE WORLD

YUMMY DILLY POTATO SALAD

Directions:

Extreme Couponing....helpful or harmful??

Best Choc-Chip Banana Bread EVER

Ingredients

Instructions

FLASH FREEZING

"Dad's Life" (Official Father's Day Anthem)

GIVEAWAY AT THE OTHER BLOG

HAPPINESS MOMENT

DISNEY OR BUST

MY WEEKEND

EMERGENCY READINESS KIT

THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING FOOD

POST NON-RAPTURE

THANKS FOR THE LAUGH, DISCOVER CARD

Faith as a Grain of Mustard Seed

MONDAY A.M. LESSON FROM A DANDELION

WATCH.LAUGH.REPEAT.

HOLD ME WHILE I CATCH MY BREATH

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

HAPPY MAY DAY

MONDAY MORNING MONEY MUSINGS

GOOD FRIDAY

It's Never Too Early To Prepare.....

TAX DAY FREEBIES

UPRINTING.COM GIVEAWAY!

10 HILARIOUS WAYS TO SPEND YOUR TAX RETURN

IT'S A FROG-WORLD, AFTER ALL

I FEEL THE NEED TO SLASH! (my auto insurance, that is!)

EAT CEREAL GET FREE MONEY

SUNDAY!!

UNCLE SAM WANTS YOU!

EVER HAD ONE OF THESE DAYS?

Dealing With Financial Clutter

MAY THE "LUCK 'O THE IRISH" BE WITH YOU

Tell Me How Am I Supposed To Live Without You??

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME 2011

COLLEGE ILLINOIS GOING BELLY UP?

A GIVEAWAY FOR A WORTHY CAUSE

EcoSMART GIVEAWAY

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

YOUR 401K

CHIPPING AWAY AT DEBT

LACK OF POSTING

Perricone MD Giveaway!!

ECOSMART GIVEAWAY ENDS TONITE 12/17

I'M DREAMING OF A DAVE CHRISTMAS.....

KIDS SAVINGS ACCOUNT WITH ING

IT'S TIME TO ANNOUNCE THE.....

ORGANIC ACRES SCAM TOTALLY RESOLVED