Having a Hallelujah Good Time

Some cash for Chinese New Year?

2012-01-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

It's Chinese New Year! Did you make special plans? Well....how about winning $100 cash?

I have teamed up with Coffee Chic and some awesome bloggers and together we are giving away your choice of Paypal cash or an Amazon gift card.

To enter:

You can check out and like Facebook pages here:

Follow Twitter accounts here:

and join Google+ pages here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Freezer Cooking My Way

2012-01-20T19:51:00.000-08:00

If you've wandered around this site much you know that I have my hands in many many things and many balls balancing through the air. I am no expert in any of these arenas but I also don't want to sacrifice any of them--slowly figuring out what works for us.

I don't enjoy cooking. I am super cheap. I'm not very good at it. There just isn't the budget to eat like we'd like to. There are many dietary limitations around here. So many emotions involved in food.

I like the idea of OAMC but it has never worked out for us: I don't have an "extra" day to shop or cook. We don't have the money to put up front (even though I know it would save money)

People seem to freeze a lot of casseroles. We don't eat many casseroles in our dietary restricted home. We didn't seem to eat the foods that many of the cookbooks were bulk cooking:(

I read in Family Fun magazine about a family who modified the system to work for them: having a once a month day where the whole family helps. I have had grandiose dreams of warping this for our family: us making meatloaf one month (I'm thinking 10-12 of them) using the food processor to chop that many onions etc and then lining them all up in our freezer nicely labeled.

Then another month we make a chicken dish and freeze those. Then....We have never actually gotten around to it.

Kim Wright. LOVE LOVE LOVE her. I remember reading about her family having many many crockpots and one day they'd cook a bunch of chickens all day and make a few batches of sauces. Then into the freezer would go chicken meat and sauces. Then another day she'd cook beef. Etc.

When meat goes on sale: I buy enough for the week and some"extra" for meatloafs. Then one night's dinner I make 4-5 meatloafs. I take all but one out 20 minutes early. Let it cool while we eat dinner and then during dinner clean up I freeze them.

When I soak dry beans and cook them I double or triple: Dinner one night, burritos for lunch that week and freeze some for later.

I have also doubled black beans when soaking and made twice as much rice. Then I add some cheese and assemble into burritos and flash freeze. ALOT cheaper and healthier than buying frozen burritos.

Even though I don't follow the conventional freeze ahead cooking or OAMC plans, our freezer has been a huge asset to our family. Getting here was a process and a labor of love.

A lady I was working for offered it to me and then ended up charging me for it (maybe a blessing in disguise because I wouldnt have bought it otherwise.) A freind with a truck and strong sons drove a half hour away and picked it up for me. He refused payment or reimbursement for gas. I may have cried.

It sat in the garagde for awhile and I collected empty containers. I didnt want to turn it on and pay to freeze an empty box of air but didnt have the money to fill it yet. It's all a process:) RIGHT after I had our 5th baby a friend, her husband and older boys came over and moved the freezer into place and plugged it in. Doesnt sound like a big deal but it was something I had been trying to get to for months. I was just "recovering" and I wandered out to the garage to see what was going on and my friend sent me back to bed. (wise woman)
This friend has 10 children and more than one garage freezer. They knew the help it would be to us more than I did.

I mentioned that I freeze extra meals. I also stock up on sales. Not just the normal grocery store rotation but those once in a while things like when our local Fresh and Easy clearanced their grass fed, organic beef down to $1.00 a pound. I bought them all.

I have another friend in a prayer group with a delivery man from a gourmet bread store. Periodically she'll bring me huge trash size bags of bread. Bread was a major expense for us and making it everyday isnt practical for us at this point. It is amazing what a huge blessing it is for us.

I also buy frozen vegettables. Like whenever I am out of town and see a great deal on meat or frozen products, I buy bags of frozen vegetables to use as ice packs in my thermal bag:)

I know that alot of people "lose" food in a big freezer. I go through ours periodically out of neccessity.
It is important to be organized and intentional though. I have seen people use dry erase boards (or write on the outside of the freezer) to keep track of what's inside.

Here is how one very organized person stores her frozen meat:
http://www.inspirationformoms.com/2012/01/21-days-to-clean-organized-home-day-3.html

I do something similiar to this but we use 2 lbs of meat per meal:) I buy diapers on Amazon and use those big boxes. I use a full sheet of paper to make a label that says "ground beef" "ground turkey" "chicken breasts" then stack the frozed bags like books on a shelf in the box. Then I use the box like a drawer in the freezer. Does that make ANY sense?

Ive thought it might be cool to have cute platic baskets but Im not sure if those would freeze well. I also dont always have the same things in there. When I do get labels down I think I will laminate them and change them out.

For now, I have started transitioning to plastic boxes and havent nailed down my labeling system yet...just in the essence of keeping it real and because I have no pretty pictures for you..Wanna see inside my freezer, right now, unprepared?

Here she is in all her unprepared glory. She could use outside primping huh?

here you see top row bread and rolls
next row chicken, beef, frozen fruits (like browning bannanas for muffins later or fruit that I didnt get around to making jam with but will at some point:)

here a little closer:

right now there aren't many empty containers filled with water and frozen because I just defrosted.
Here is the under utilized door:

There was an amazing sale on butter recently and that fourth shelf down was full but is dwindling quickly.

I have a standing freezer. Here, Inspiration For Moms shares how she organizes a chest freezer. I'm really liking her Dollar Store baskets. I use those same labels elsewhere and they look so nice in the freezer hmmmm....

I'd love to hear how you organize your freezer or how it saves you time or money! Also if you have any freeze ahead meals that work for your family. Please share!

Weekend Reflections

2012-01-19T13:23:00.000-08:00

I have been reading some of the "bigger blogs" catching us up on their day by day. Wondering if that is something I should try. I can show you the piles of laundry and messy rooms but on this here blog there will be no "after" shots. I could tally all that I accomplish but do you REALLY want to know how many loads of laundry I do? Do I? Honestly? Who wants to hear about the mundane. It's nothing to write home about :) Yet, who decides what is mundane or that the everyday isn't worth celebrating?

I have been thinking about money. Sob story in a nutshell: My husband injured his back the same time that we found stage 3 malignant melanoma on my back and I had surgery. 3 little little kids. No outside help. My husband was out of work and in school for three years. I wasn't capable of much. Somehow it all worked out but we have yet to fully recover. He now has a decent job, 1/2 hour away. We are living paycheck to paycheck to say the least and there is something about the timing of being paid every 2 weeks where the dates fall wonky and certain times of the year bills get backed up. We are there.

Thursday night I drove our boys to Boy Scouts and went to do our grocery shopping. Trying to figure out how much money we have and what meals we can pull off. Boys laughing joking and distracting. They are sooo loud. When did that happen? Seriously they are man size and LOUD.

I compost with worms. I put an add on Craigslist to sell some. If that works I'll have some food money.

There was a huge accident making some of the Boy Scout leaders late for our meeting Thursday night. I tried to link in the video but...There was a big tanker driving down an area that we call "three bridges" the tanker swerved and went over another car and crashed into the river below in a HUGE fire. The other car was smashed and dangling over one of the bridges. In the car was a young mom her 10 year old and newborn daughters. The car was a new BMW. I dont know how it wasnt flattened. Also going down the road were Military SeaBees bringing a forklift for them to train. They were hours away from home and happened upon this accident seconds after it happened and the car was dangling. They brought them to safety.. Wow. Wow on sooo many accounts. Wow.

I actually cried at this story. That poor mom driving down the road--it could happen to any of us. The SeaBees just HAPPENING by with a forklift? wow.

For 22 months I worked a few nights a week doing tow truck dispatch within the county. I kind of miss it: being there to help. Making a difference. But I was up all night and not able to fully live the life I have been given: this exhausting overflowing life that takes every second of me.

We truly believe that God will provide through my husband. We trust God for that but also don't want to take advantage of that. I have not "worked" since we have been married. I taught at a Christian School a few days a week while was pregnant. I was the Director of a Crisis Pregnancy Center then too. I have done food demoing in grocery stores. I got really good ones. (Tassimo coffee maker for $12.00 hour. Adell sausage for $14.00 and at Costco) I have also sold Tupperware on and off. Tupperware has been very good to me. I went to the Farmers Market and stood and made at least $100 a week. (When I say "made" I sincerely mean after product and gas and everything)

I keep coming back to blogging. What am I doing here? What is my niche? I know my blog shouldn't be like anyone else (and it isn't ;) I know it cant interfere with my "real life" or it isn't working for me. I also like the idea of making money from what you are already doing and enjoy. I won a new blog header from KlassicBlogDesigns as well as this HUGE giveaway from SugarandDots that included advertising on some bigger blogs. All in the works happening around me.

Speaking of laundry. My husband has two makeshift sets of scrubs. He works 3 ten hour days in a row. He runs out of laundry. He also uses this:

to ease his back pain. Last night, I washed ALL his work clothes, put them in the dryer and went to bed. At 4 am he woke me up franctic. He had lost his bottle of cream. It showed up in the pocket of his scrubs and went through the washer and dryer. EVERYTHING he wears to work is stained. We can't buy new scrubs right now and he has to work :(

We had a tragic death happen in our church family. I want to talk to you more about that later too.

Well, that is all out there. I welcome any thoughts. I also need help figuring out what my blog is from people who "get it".

I still havnet posted this. I cleaned out a corner of our garage! If only you knew how amazing that was. We moved in here two years ago in the rain and threw everything in the garage. It never got moved around. My husband wants a week to empty everything out and start from scratch. There is no week to do that. He also wants EVERYTHING out but his tools.

In there now are a metal cabinet of kitchen storage, a deep freeze, a built in house Vacuum system, clothes for our kids to grow into, Christmas trees, an overflow of toilet paper, diapers etc, homeschooling books. 9 sleeping bags, tents, camping stove, bicycles, helmets, skates and pads, two bicycle carriers and a bicycle carriage, yard tools, tools, cabinets. some extra furniture and borken chairs, folding tables and chairs, two beds we havent put together yet....those are the things that I KNOW are in there can you even imagine what I have forgotten:) Our leaf blower, and weed wacker keep being thrown on the ground and I wanted them hung...long story short: I had a crying screaming teen and a husband blaming me and i went out side alone and tackled a mess that I actually could conquer: I moved everything off that wall to the front of the garage, for now. I then swtiched out bookshelves so my husabnd had more room for his nuts and bolts and found an apparatus to hang on the wall. I did all this in under 25 minutes. Later that night I went out to see if I could make any further progress and managed to knock over the bookcase of nuts and bolts that my husband had sorted into GLASS jars. HUGE HUGE mess. The next day I kind of cleaned it up and asked my husband to hang the shelf. He and the older boys were on their way to turn in recycling (for food money) He told me it was too big of a deal. I was OK with that. Little did I know he took it on. He didnt want to hang anything until we had the perfect shelf. He used a level and ladder and found studs and all sorts of thigns that woudlnt have occured to me. It took so long that the recycling center closed.

You know that terrible time of the day when every one is tired and cranky and hungry and needs you? I fell asleep during that. For a few hours. Then my daughter went to bed at 7. I think we are getting sick:)

****I am going to start back up with Tupperware. I will have a party on January 25th and earn my kit and book some parties. (Hey! if you want to pass around some catalogs and earn some hostess gifts just let me know!) I'd like to let you know periodically about specials (because I enjoy doing that) but I don't want to become pushy and selly HERE. Maybe I can devise a way to have a hidden link or an email sign up. I don't actually know HOW to do either of those though:)

This day by day has become a week's highlights/lowlights post:)

I often feel like I shouldnt post about things because I am not the best at them. Yeah I like my mantle but some people are amazing decorators. Yeah I juggle two teens and two preschoolers and one sweet preteen, but what do I know about large families? So many families are larger. Soooo is there anything you'd like to hear me talk about? Any areas where you want to pick my brain? Let me know:) I'm here.

GDA and general fun stuff I've found:)

2012-01-11T15:25:00.000-08:00

Today is a tired, tons to do day:( I had a few minutes on line and found some neat things to share!

Walmart has the complete Start Wars saga today for 50% off. That is the widescreen Blu Ray complete saga for $70. You could have it shippped to the store for free, or your home for 97 cents.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Star-Wars-The-Complete-Saga-Blu-ray-Widescreen/15711109?wmlspartner=UPlPL63lmM0&sourceid=28254701250929606935

Here a site with her act together has all the new printable coupons ready for us:
http://www.dirtcheapdiva.com/todays-new-printable-coupons-110/

Both Albertsons and CVS have great sales on toilet paper this weekend:)

I make lists. Tons and tons of them. Ugly ones in all diretions on numerous scraps of paper. Id like them better if they were pretty, and all in one place

The letter 4 has a neat grocery list printable.

Free for us:) they go as far as to make a notepad and hang them cutely. I'll be happy just using them:)

You can read more about getting 20 free Valentine photo cards here

The Target Deal of the day is a Sceptre 24" Class 1080p 60hz LED HDTV Collection just $159 (Reg. $229) -you can read more HERE

You can get Eight O’Clock Coffee only $4.73 a Bag Shipped!

and speaking of coffee...
Starting tomorrow, January 12th, through Saturday, January 14th, Starbucks is hosting a FREE coffee tasting event!

This is in no way exhaustive...but I am and now need to go get some coffee:)

Provision, Providence and Sons

2012-01-02T16:31:00.000-08:00

I have a proud Mom story to share. Not because I am so smart and taught my son so much but because he is showing himself patient and frugal. Indulge me OK?

For Easter last year my 12 year old son received $4.00.

A few months later, while shopping with me in GoodWill, he spotted an XBOX 360 game. Perfect condition for $2.00. He purchased it with the $4.00 he still had from Easter. We don't have an XBOX 360. He loaned it to friends and waited patiently.

He went to GameStop the day after Christmas and sold the game. He was offered $6.00 or $8.00 store credit. He chose store credit and then found out they were having a special that day: 50% more for store credit. So, he actually received $12.00 in store credit.

We looked around the store and found a section of used games with no directions or boxes. There was ANOTHER special that day: buy two games get two free. He was able to find 4 games for the PS2 that we do have.

He managed to stretch that $2.00 into 4 PS2 games and $1.20 in GameStop store credit. GO Zac!

Zac is a good steward of things and takes good care of them. I know that he would like to have the best and may even deserve it. It does my heart well to see him wait patiently and earnestly and make the most of what he has.

**Huge sidenote: this kid has managed to shyly and slyly sneak out of pictures. While his brother AND sister sneak my camera and take a zillion close ups of themselves and his younger siblings shout "ME! Cheese!" There are almost no pictures of Zac. Sorry for the bad pictures in this post. Even they took some searching and scrounging. Hmmmph.

joining the party at: EasyPeasyGrandma, 120th Penny Pinching Party, We are that Family, Wow us Wednesdays, Share Your Awesomeness, What I love about the Thrift Store,

Good Deals Today

2011-12-28T10:46:00.000-08:00

Not sure why, but there were a lot of good deals today and a few that I had to share.

Staples has a Free reusable shopping bag. You just need to print THIS and go before Decmeber 31st.

Amazon has The Monopoly app for Android (normally 4.99) free today

**on a sidenote. I got a Vizio tablet for Christmas. What Android apps do I need?

Institute for Excellence In Writing is offering great things for the 12 days of Christmas on their Facebook page. There have been free Mp3 downloads. Today is free shipping. Head over and check it out.

Whenever we have family gatherings I realize I dont have as much food storage as I'd like. (or maybe you send yours home with people)

Lock & Lock 32-Piece Food Storage Container Set BPA-Free With Airtight & Watertight Seals for $19.99! (normally retails for $119)

Amazon's Deal of the Day is: Black & Decker Steam Mop – $44.99 with Free Shipping today (reg $118.00)

AND... a free sample of Tom's of Maine toothpaste.

Keeping up with Social Media

2011-12-27T12:19:00.000-08:00

I hope my post title didnt make you think this would be a post about the merits of keeping off the grid or a warning against the time wasting on Facebook/Twitter/GooglePlus.

NOPE this is an announcement that Having a Hallelujah Good Time is now on Twitter and Google Plus!

I stole some time from our Holiday planning and wrapping and cleaning our garage (you dont want to know ) to watch this video http://youtu.be/wyb1jYl2eTo

and used

tutorial and free icons

and Im on board.

Then I played around on Twitter and am joining this party:

Then I read about twitter parties: What one consists of, how to join in the fun and how to host one:.. HERE HERE and HERE. Looks like LOTS of fun!! Right now, Im not even sure I get how to tweet :) But Im a quick learner.

Wont you join me?

I'd love love love for you to follow me on Twitter or Google+. Im just figuring it all out, but maybe we can learn together!

Do you Tweet? What do you use Twitter for? Have you joined or hosted a Twitter Party?

Are you on Google+? Do you prefer it over Facebook?

looking for more followers and joining these parties:

Facebook Like You Back

What I buy on Amazon.com

2011-12-26T14:35:00.000-08:00

Many many people have discovered the joys of shopping at Amazon.com. There is a lot of appeal to shopping in your pjs from home and getting great prices and speedy speedy shipping (usually free) and deliveries right to your door.

I am often asked what I buy on Amazon. I want to say EVERYTHING. But that seems a lttle vague.

There are several categories of things that make sense to buy online:
-things cheaper than in town
-things not available in town
-things embarassing to buy in person
-essentials you dont want to find yourself out of (like toilet paper, diapers or coffee)

What do I actually buy?
Let's make a list:)

toilet paper:) on Subscribe and Save Charmin comes out to 22 cents a roll

laundry soap. I always mean to make my own but dont. This stuff is great. No harmful chemicals or dyes and pennies a load.

With the rising price of peanut butter, I was excited to come accross this. Organic Peanut Butter only 3.25 a jar with Subscribe & Save

QUICK BREAKFAST:

great and chocolatey but gluten free, wheat free and organic (made with rice) (29 cents an ounce-3 big bags)

also wheat free, gluten free and organic (made with corn) 3 bags.

I like to keep these on hand for times when unhealthy treats are handed out, or for a treat at church..or with coffee when no one is looking:)

We dont snack much. But I've started keeping these on hand for times mentioned above or a treat with lunch on Sunday:

We dont have the budget for fast food when times get crazy..yet they still get crazy:) I keep a case of these on hand for a quick dinner. No dyes, preservatives. Complies with Stage 1 of the Feingold diet:

and cleaning:

These are expensive for our fmaily BUT they work really well and dont contain chlorine:

the best price I can find on this. We are big hand washers and I dont like the ingredients in most hand soaps:

We are blessed to have one of those georgous glass showers. And hard water. I have tried ALL the shower sprays and like this one the best. I didnt really realize that all of our bathroom cleaners were Mrs Meyers. That wasn't on purpose.

Here is another item that I technically make myself yet I run out a lot:) We have ALOT of granite

When we started saving batteries for the recycling center I was shocked to see how many we were using. Think you dont use that many? I was surprised by items like clocks.....We are slowly converitng over to all rechargeable. These are good quality and can be charged 100 times

I keep these on hand for hiking or sick times when we may get dehydrated:

LOVE LOVE LOVE this stuff. Not a big fan of perfumy cover ups but this is different and made with essentail oils. With 4 boys in the house this is such a welcome friend:

My hormones get really wacky. These honestly do balance them. this is the best brand and best price that Ive found:

We have been giving these to our littlest ones:

I strongly dislike terms like "pre-teen" yet my daughter doesnt have the same dietary needs as my littles or myself. I recently found these and they have been great.

This is a great price on these and Carlsons is the best:

These are great DHA for the littles

I KNOW there is more. Whenever I think I might want something: I check the price on Amazon, put it in my cart and think about it for awhile. Most of our Christmas presents came from Amazon. And the books we read. Our family present for Christmas this year was an LG Blu ray player for $50. I watch for their amazing deals and plan around those. Looking through our orders for the past year I saw all of our birthday presents, anniversary presents and big splurges. All on Amazon. From the comfort of my home and cheaper.

Please share with us your favorites from Amazon
Deals you have found on Amazon
Things that add convenience from Amazon.

**I am an Amazon affiliate. The links here contain my info and if you buy from Amazon using one of those links I wont know your info or what you buy but I will receive a percentage. Thank you.

Illness at the Holidays

2011-12-24T21:44:00.000-08:00

The holiday season: the time for getting together and junk food and potlucks. Lots of get togethers, lots of sugary treats and lots of potlucks. And germs. So so many germs. Our family does our our best to avoid and combat them: Limit treats, extra sleep, wash ends often, pump up on acidophilus.

This year something overcame our efforts and we awoke to a teen vomiting all over the bathroom and then
IN an under the bed box full of legos that hadnt been put away:(

Few days in bed and then our 5 and 3 year olds were up all night vomiting, one after the other.

We'd comfort and clean, change the bedding and towels and do a load of laundry and then the other would wake up. All night long.

Then my husband. Then my other son. Then we thought we were in the clear and then a few days later my daughter was up ALL night.
Someone asked me why large families get sick so often.

Maybe some do but in OUR case it's not that we get sick often it's that we get sick one by one. Did you count how many days it took a 24 hour bug to go through our home? I don't want to. I still have a headache.

No matter how you look at it, you just don't want to be sick on Christmas. I wish there were a raincheck. Its not just the day. I obviously don't want to miss gatheirng with family and worshiping on Sunday morning. But there were also cookies to be made and delivered and cards to be delivered and we never did make a gingerbread house or hand stamp ornaments. It's not the same after the 26th.

We had this all happen a few years back. I was the first to get sick. I ended up not eating because there were no meals planned and nothing in the house. I eventaully ate the 12 dozen coookies that we had made for but couldn't deliver to our friends. I made a list of things to have on hand (or ask someone to go get) just in czase we get sick in the future:
-crackers
-apple juice
-organic chicken broth
-Oscillococcinum (great great stuff)
-Herbal teas Peppermint, Echanachea, or Chamomile
-GrabGreen Room and Fabric Freshener (I spray this stuff EVERYWHERE. It isn't a fragrant cover up it is made from essential oils and actually helps)

I also got vinyl tablecloths to have on hand so you can lay one on the floor and top with towels and make a bed. Much much better than stripping the entire bed when midnight calamity strikes. Right now is probably a good time to get some at after Christmas clearance prices.

Not that this will ever ever happen to us again. But can you think of anything else that we should prepare with? Have you ever had to cancel or postpone Christmas festivities?

Our family usually gathers without us. Or if they are sick they don't tell us and we spend the NEXT few weeks sick.

I think I may still take cookies to neighbors, They will just be late. Maybe I'll even buy premade Christmas cookie dough on clearance. Right now I need to focus on resting and nurturing these six in my nest. Then we celebrate.

Christmas Decorating 2011

2011-12-20T00:02:00.000-08:00

Do you know anyone who actually can buy what they want to decorate for Christmas with? I am not one of them. I get my stuff out each year and kind of think..really? This is it? Yet somehow when you put it all together there is something magical. is it the Christmas carols playing in the background the cool Christmas cup in my hand? Who knows.

Here we go....

I told you about our tree here. This year we had to replace all the lights. I'd like to get a new one but I think Id still keep this one:) My husband's grandmother knit each of us a stocking to match the one she knit for my husband when he was born. She also filled it every year when he was a child. Great lady.

Here is another of the tree:

We have a small tree on our kitchen island. It was my husband's grandmother's. I ended up with it when taking her stuff to the GoodWill. We just hosted a Christmas cookie exchange. Hence the decorations for that...

Here is another tree. This one is fiber optic and also rescued from Grandma's GoodWill pile.

Deep thought for the Day

2011-12-08T13:15:00.001-08:00

Christmas Traditions

2011-12-07T10:37:00.000-08:00

I want to preface with, "I'm coming clean ladies" but I hope I haven't put on any airs to tear down.

I have been dealing with hormone stuff and feeling VERY overwhelmed. I am OK and we are very blessed but just the daily "he hit me" "what does this mean" and constant toddler training and teen drama and all the little things to think through and the laundry and meals and budgeting for 7 people....it takes a toll on me. It takes a toll on our fun stuff. That is one of the points of this blog" To encourage to find the celebrations and the joys of the everyday.

I ordered Christmas cards. I took them to our Friday co-op and started to pass them out and then left them locked in a church 1/2 hour away that I don't attend. And now I don't have a car.

My daughter was frustrated that I didn't get the tree up on Black Friday so SHE put it up.

and asked the littles to help her. Most of our ornaments were broken. I have prayed and prayed and counted to ten many many times and we are discussing respecting boundaries. Not the festivities I had in mind :(

I hung our stockings that my husband's dear grandmother knitted for each of us (this is our first Christmas without her) ***All pictures are from last year--although things are hung pictures have not been taken yet:)

I got out our Advent wreath and candles but I couldn't find the devotional (we have more than one.) I planned a Christmas party but didn't get the word out until last minute so I don't know how it will come together...

We celebrated my husband's 40th with his parents and made dinner together. It was a good time. One of our best.

All that said to try to convince myself that it is Christmas time and we are doing fun things but....

It doesn't "feel" like Christmas. Could it be our beautiful sunny Southern Ca weather? I know that we'll sit down to a campy Christmas movie together and I'll cry. And we'll sneak in some time with friends. We'll deliver cookies to friends. Christmas cards will start arriving. We'll find that Advent devotional and really dig in. I just don't want to miss any of those precious moments because I wasn't prepared to "catch" them.

Do you have any suggestions?

These are a few of my favorite things......

2011-12-05T00:34:00.000-08:00

One of the hardest things about this time of year is not being able to buy all the things for people that I'd like to. I'd love to buy the mail lady and each Sunday School teacher, and oooh, the nice neighbor, meaningful and heartfelt gifts that show how much we really appreciate them. Unfortunately though, my non-existent budget goes pretty quick and doesn't send the message I'd like.

BUUT! If I could play Oprah for a day (on the $30 budget that Nester suggested) I'd invite each of you and with a cloth lined basket with a big big bow I'd give you:

Love love love this book. I have been asking EVERYONE I see to read it because I want to talk about it, but I don't want to loan out my book:)

You would also recieve this print: framed and ready for your home

made by Kimmie at Sugar and Dots

then, of course we'll need these:

You'd each get a few of these:

from FiveSisterz on etsy because I just love these girls...

I want to make you a mixed tape of all my favorite songs and one of Christmas songs too...what would be the techo savvy version? A mixed cd? an Itunes gift card? Would my party have its on web page with music? I'll need to think on that.

It's also seeming that your basket has a lot of red in it. I'm thinking the liner is a brown and white damask maybe the rest of the $30 should be spent on candy to fill the basket. Candy that you hide from your children (you all do that, right?) Oh and we need a beeswax candle in there too...

Also linking up at:

Affiliates: Amazon is back!!

2011-12-02T18:31:00.000-08:00

CA legislation stopped my Amazon affiliate for awhile...But it's back!!

When you buy from Amazon, please go through my link:

When you go through this link, nothing changes for you. You still go under your account. You can still use your Amazon Prime and free shipping. BUT I get a percentage of your purchase (all anonymously) I have one friend who bookmarks my blog page and labels it "Amazon" another has the widget on her desktop...

I sooo much appreciate your support: Thank you.

In the Everyday

2011-12-01T23:53:00.000-08:00

It amazes me how at times you realize how mundane and plain your life is and how dirty and sinful you are and you beg God to pick you up and blow off all the sin and selfishness and make all the cares and laundry and drama go away. The thing is, that is not how God chooses to work. He could if He wanted to but instead of picking you up, He holds you close and meets you there and works miracles and amazingness through and with all your crud and sin and shortcomings.

It;s in the laundry and snotty noses and dirty diapers and "Mom!!! He did..." and our desire for great things that we are shown the meaning and usefulness that we were designed for and that there is so much more than we can see now.

Anne Kiemel says, "Life is made up ordinary days." Yet in the ordinariness of our days is His amazing and miraculous plan to work through and with us in our dirty and distracted state.

I am so grateful for that. For all of it. So grateful that God can see the whole picture and the whole plan and chooses me. Truly mind blowing and very very humbling.

GDA! Lane Bryant half price!

2011-11-22T20:08:00.000-08:00

Starting to feel a lot like the holidays!!

Just in time for finding that special something to wear Lane Bryant is offering 50% off of everything on their site!!

There are some great things on clearance like this pretty shirt...

They have fun outift suggestions like these for a holiday party:

I really really want some holiday boots!

Or you coudl REALLY take advantage of the 50% off and go big with a winter coat...

DEFINATELY worth heading over to the website to check it out:

Let's Link Up and Help one Another!!

2011-11-12T08:41:00.000-08:00

I'm having one of those "why do I blog? What good am I doing here?" moments.
In my daily life, people are looking to me for answers on parenting and homemaking. Is it because I'm near 40? Is it because I'm loud and bossy? Is it because I have teens? Am I doing something right? I haven't given very good advice to these questioners. No advice, no encouragement. Rather..I have stared back with a "really? Are you talking to me? expression." NICE huh?

I do take this mothering, teaching, homemaking stuff seriously but I'm not all that great at any of it . I am honest. In my life you will see Grace not perfection. I'm not going to put myself above you and say how much better I am than you. Not here. I will however come alongside you and nod my head saying, "Yep, this is really hard"

So, what if Having a Hallelujah Good Time could be a place like that? What if we had a link up here that brought you ways people make things work, tutorials on how to do them and a monthly link up on subjects where we all need help: freezer cooking and planning ahead, budgeting, how you take a break, curriculi planning, gardening...whatever WE need help figuring out OR have figured out. If you make an amazing tatted pillow, that is encouraging to me (especially if you show the brownies you had for dinner and the mess your toddler made while you worked on that pillow) This isn't a competition--we are in this together and can help one another.

Once again my mantra is going to come out: I DONT HAVE MONEY RIGHT NOW TO start a linky but was hoping you all could overlook that and just link up in the comments :) I am working on advertising and site redesign. Expect some pretty pretty changes and a breakdown of link up subjects in January. BUT lets not wait til them OR until I come up with a witty title and button...lets link up now!

What are you working on? What works for you? What doesn't work for you? What day is better to link up? Do you any witty titles for this link up Im dreaming up?

Good Deals and no Cash

2011-10-28T16:14:00.000-07:00

All of our bills have piledx up and money getting tighter and tighter.

Wouldnt ya know Im finding amazing deals on items that ive been wanting :(

Someone PLEASE take advantage of these deals because I can't.

HP all in One Wireless Printer

$44.99 at 1saleaday.com

AANNND.......

Panasonic VIERA 42-Inch 1080p 120Hz LED Smart HDTV
for $549.99
at Amazon.com

For now...I will be grateful for ALL that I have and keep racking in the Swagbucks:

to trade in for prizes (hopefully in time for Christmas) :)

Vallarta

2011-10-22T18:17:00.000-07:00

Went to a drs appt that could have been the beginning of a really BIG deal. All turned out well but I was still shooken up. Was in the same town as Costco etc but just didnt have any money to spend or want to. My son and I walked quickly through our favorite GoodWill. And I heard my 13 year old say, "hey" like he was greeting an old friend. He came accross this:

which matches THESE

that we already own. and I told you about HERE. We found them at the same GoodWill which can only get my wheels turning: Are there more waiting for us in the back?

Our long lost friend sells is a Pasta Serving Dish in the Vallarta pattern from Pier One. It sells on Replacements.com for 94.95.

I also see them in her house

Molly Ringwald (Anne Juergens on Secret Life of the American Teenager) and feel a little stalkerish. In many episodes someone is holding a Vallarta coffee cup nad you can often see the dishes displayed in a hutch in the background of kitchen scenes.

Our "new" bowl was ours for.........would you believe 2.99?

I'm linking up at Thrifty Decorating, SugarandDots,

Catch up and some good deals to share...

2011-10-22T16:51:00.000-07:00

I have so much to tell you and am wondering how much you'd like to hear:) Life is been very very busy here including a death in the family and memoria services and burial and toddlers and teens and I am doing a lot of reflection.

Money is getting very very tight here AND it looks like my husband may be laid off soon. Looking for more and more ways to stretch every penny.

I have been watching Extreme Couponers. I have my own stockpile (that I'm not going to show embarrassing pictures of at the moment) When something that we use (like mustard, toilet paper, or diapers) hits rock bottom prices I stock up. I haven't ventured into buying coupons or making spreadsheets. Not that I'm opposed to it. Mostly because I just don't have time. But I am considering it. I picked up some affilaites that offer free coupons. Check them out and let me know what you use!

Here is a free subscription to American Baby magazine

Have you ladies seen Hautelook? They had some GREAT deals on Fall boots today. I need to save some money somewhere and get on there. They do offer $10 for any referrals I make..so please if you do go there go through my link :)

Another great find is NoMoreRack. Every day they have 8 amazing deals that last only that day. My husband has been looking for a cord to hook up his Ipod touch to our tv. Today, they had one for 99 cents, including shipping. ANNNND....there is something that you can do for me:) They are offering incentives for signing up friends. You don't need to buy anything but if you sign up at the site to get info on their daily deals I COULD earn and Ipad. Check it out and see if its worth it to you HERE.

These are my two new best friends:

LOVE LOVE LOVE Murphys Oil. use it for everything. Seriously...

there is a 50 cents off coupon to print here: http://www.colgate.com/MurphyOilSoap/promotions

Our rental has over 1000 square feet of travertine stone. Its beautiful and at times I feel like a slave to it. I mop and mop and still my feet turn black. YUCK!! I ordered one of these babies:

a Hoover Spin and Scrub Hard Floor Cleaner

refurbished from Ebay (with gift cards I bought at Vons to get money off gas)

It is easy to use AND I am getting gallons of dirty water. We're talking coffee-esque black water. Apparently all that mopping and cleaning was for nothing. I cant decide if I'm stoked to have the dirt away or highly embarrassed that it was there in the first place.

I'll be back soon:) Are you geared up for Fall? Our decorating and celebrating keeps being interrupted by Indian Summer:)

The Holidays are coming!!

2011-09-26T23:08:00.000-07:00

Despite the warm weather and slow start we are getting into the academic year--The holidays are coming. Check the calendar for yourself: It is now Autumn. Are you ready? Do you want to avoid the aplnning mistakes you made last year? No last minute gift buying for the really important person that you forgot. No more running out for last minute pizza for cranky kids that had enjoyed a day of holiday festivities, so much so that their frazzled mom forgot dinner. I am working toward these things and have a great tool to get me there.

I have you told you the past few years about how much I LOOVE Sheri Grahams 12 week- Holiday planner. I still do:) I am a slow learner and each year I utilize more and more aspects of this great planner.

Honestly, just HAVING a holiday planner has helped me so mcuh. Sheri has thought of so many things that I woudlnt have and somehow she managed to organize them all in. Things like doubling meals in October and freezing for those busy nights of Holiday parties sounds so clever but is worth its weight in gold when actually planned out and written down. Sheri's keeps your eyes on Christ and serving your family. That organization, encouragement, and focus is precisely what your holidays need.
If you join me and start using this great planner October 1st you too can:

-Have Your Christmas Gifts planned, bought and wrapped by the first of December
-Have Your Christmas Letter written and ready to mail around Thanksgiving
-Plan Your Holiday Menus so you don’t even think about it when Thanksgiving rolls around
-Have Enough Time to give Homemade Gifts to your friends and family
-Have all Your Baking Supplies on Hand when You Need Them
-Have Your Gifts Shipped In Time for Christmas

Here is what's in the 12 Week Holiday Planner to create such magic?
-Blank Monthly and Weekly Calendar pages for Planning Your Holidays
-Weekly “To Do” Lists – Shows You exactly what needs to be Done Each Week
-Thanksgiving and Christmas Menus Forms
-Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Recipe Card Forms
-A Holiday Self-Evaluation Form – Prioritize So You Celebrate Your Ideal Christmas
-Shopping Lists
-Items to Do This Week (Giving you a Ready Made Plan from the first week of October til Christmas)
-Christmas Craft and Gift Ideas
-Memory Making Ideas for the Family
-Holiday Journal Pages

USER-FRIENDLY: Forms, Plans, Pages and Tips.

you can view some sample pages HERE

(I am an affiliate for this planner, because I really really believe in it. I will earn a commission for any purchases made from links listed in this post. )

Hellman's: Head to Head Chicken Dish Challenge

2011-09-20T14:06:00.000-07:00

I have a confession: I LOVE MAYONAISE. I have tried making my own. But honestly, I do like Hellmans best.
I been known to slather chicken breasts with mayo and maybe bread crumbs. For awhile, I did this one to two times a week:) Sometimes I added lemon. Apparently, I need some new ideas.

My realization (and confession) are very timely:

Helmmans is hosting a live Facebook challenge--Chicken Challenge - a series of head-to-head chicken dish challenges to help moms diversify their dinner routine

disclaimer: Im sharing this event as part of the one2one network. All opinions are my own--yours may differ.

What: Hellmann's Live Chicken Challenge

Where: Live stream at Facebook.com/Hellmanns
When: Tomorrow, Sept. 20th at 12:10pm EST
Who: Celeb dad and actor Mark Consuelos, renowned chef Tim Love and lifestyle expert Sissy Biggers

Head over to Hellmans Facebook page: for more details and to join in on all the fun.

Mat Kearney- Young Love

2011-09-01T23:59:00.000-07:00

I was asked to review:

Young Love by Mat Kearney

You can purchase the album here on Itunes

I had heard his songs. They are all over the radio and in stores. Catchy, uplifting tunes.
According to wikipedia, his songs have been featured on " the following television series: 30 Rock, Dirty Sexy Money, Kyle XY, The Unit, Without A Trace, Laguna Beach, The Hills, Bones, Jericho, Friday Night Lights, Wildfire, What About Brian, South Beach, 8th & Ocean, One Tree Hill, Scrubs, The Closer, NCIS, Life Unexpected, Grey's Anatomy and The Vampire Diaries. His song "Runaway" is featured on the Soul Surfer movie soundtrack.".

The thing is that, honestly, I never REALLY listened. When I did, I was impressed. There is an honesty and brilliance about his music. He is a person I'd want to know and share a cup of coffee with. Someone Id welcome into my home.

I enjoy this obvious hit:
<iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/L9qUMr6feOI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>iframe>

But what took me a minute to catch on too was that he's talking about life with his new bride and working out all the kinks and rhythms:
"Singing, hey mama, don't want no drama

Just a kiss before I leave
Hey lady, don't say maybe
You're the one that I can believe
Hey lover, don't want no other
Finger for my ring
I was also touched, and inspired by:

Rochester.
<iframe width="420" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fUWFNRlA1-g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>iframe>
You can read the lyrics HERE
He prefaces the song explaining it is his father's story. There is something so real and profound and honest about it. It's a story of breaking familial cycles. Of wanting more for your kids and family. Of one man's struggle and the hope found in the yes of a child and then becoming the man he wanted to be for him. It's not sad and doesn't make you angry: somehow he took this story and told it in a true and inspiring way. Love that.

Honestly, this CD has been playing in our kitchen, our living room, and our vehicle since it came in the mail. NON-STOP. It is good. It is fun. It has depth and appeals to everyone.

http://bit.ly/YLWidget

Giveaway Alert

2011-08-24T15:03:00.000-07:00

Came accross a great giveaway.

has reached 100 followers

and Cap Creations

is giving away this:

what a georgous georgous necklace and beautiful reminder.
Go on over and congratulate on 100 followers (and maybe come back wearing this necklace)

Try it out and help me out?

2011-08-16T17:50:00.000-07:00

I am really excited about Shaklee cleaning products

AND looking for some "extra" food money. I do not have the time or energy to start a business right now. There is a special going on right now that may help us both. If you go look around the Shaklee site and find products that you'd like to try, you will receive 15% your first order. If you purchase more than $30 I will also receive products. If you fall in love like I have I could become a distributor and meet all your cleaning supply needs. If not, you got a great deal on inexpensive, helping products that do what you want them to and feel no pressure.
Click here to shop under my affiliate link

There are many many fan pages written about this baby here:

and I agree and they are true and I use it and like it and all but I CANNOT keep enough of this stuff aound

all natural, made from cherry pits and actually made MY sink and oven clean. With NO scrubbing. I believed that it would but figured it would also be a lot of work. NOPE. I also made new again three large stainless steel pots that I had burnt stuff on. (I know I know I am a natural before and after challenge:)

I can rave about these products but there are two ladies that do SUCH a better job...check out their how tos and before and afters (they also offer give aways from time to time ;)

I honestly do suggest that you try their cleaning supplies. I haven't even ventured into laundry and dishes yet :) Wanna join me on this journey and try them out with me? Id really really appreciate if you go through

this link: