Super Mom Sanctuary

Quick One Day Sale!

2011-08-01T08:45:00.002-04:00

I am always on the hunt for beautiful, unique gifts to give to family and friends, and when I can incorporate my love for my Saviour into those gifts, I get even more excited. So, when I happened across the Personalized Tree of Life Cross on agiftpersonalized.com, I immediately fell in love with it.

There are so many ways to personalize this one product. It would make a great gift for any family member or friend you have, and for any occasion: a marriage, a new baby, a baptism... the possibilities are endless.

At $24.99, it's a great deal.

BUT, agiftpersonalized.com is giving my readers a special discount today only! That's right! If you use the code bless35 at checkout, you will get 35% off the Personalized Tree of Life Cross.

You have to hurry - this deal is only valid today, August 1st.

Click here to purchase your Personalized Tree of Life Cross today!

I Am a Woman of God {Giveaway - 6/17}

2011-06-03T15:45:00.003-04:00

I love when a company stands up for what's right. That's why I was so excited when I Am a Woman of God contacted me and asked if I would host a giveaway of one of their fantastic products!

They offer all sorts of products that will help you tell the world that you are a child of a King. They will make you look and feel like the princess that you are in His eyes. There are t-shirts, key chains, bags, and so much more.

I Am A Woman of God is offering their fabulous Purple T-Shirt for one lucky winner. You can proudly tell the world exactly who you are every time you put on this shirt.

To Enter
Mandatory: You MUST be a fan of I AM A WOMAN OF GOD on Facebook. Become a fan, and then let me know that you did by leaving a comment below. (Leave your Facebook first name and last initial, please.)
*Mandatory. If this is not done, you cannot win.

Want Extra Entries?

Visit the I Am A Woman of God website and take a look around. Then, come back here, leave me a comment, and tell me one other item you would love to have. (One time)

Blog About this Giveaway. Be sure to include a link to SuperMom Sanctuary and I Am A Woman of God. (5 extra entries)

Subscribe to us via email. (2 extra entries.)

Subscribe to us via reader. (1 extra entry.)

Become a fan of SuperMom Sanctuary on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook first name and last initial, please.)

Share this giveaway on Facebook. (Once per DAY - just leave a link, or copy/paste text that you posted with your Facebook User Name.)

Follow SuperMom Sanctuary and I Am A Woman of God on twitter. (Leave your twitter id, please!)

Tweet about this contest. (1 Tweet Per DAY.)

Grab our button and put it on your blog. (Leave us a link to your blog, please!)

Add us to your blog roll. (Leave a link to your blog, please!)

Follow our blog publicly - either through Google's Followers Gadget or through Facebook's Networked Blogs. (Leave a comment for each one that you do. Anonymous following doesn't count.)

Write a review of SuperMom Sanctuary on Alexa. (3 extra entries. Leave your Alexa profile name, please.)

Stumble or Digg this post. (Once. Please leave your stumbledupon or digg username.)

Fine Print: Contest is open to residents of the US. If you already do any of the above, you qualify. Please leave a comment for each of the extra entries you complete. However, you must first leave the required comment as stated above. Giveaway will end on June 17th, 2011 at 11:59pm (EST), and the winner will be selected via random.org. Winner will be notified via email upon selection, and will have 48 hours to claim their prize.

Disclaimer: I was contacted by a representative of I Am A Woman of God. I have not been compensated for this post in any way. The sponsor is fulfilling the winners' prizes as stated above.

A Mother Who Prays

2011-03-29T16:31:00.000-04:00

As a mom of 6, not a day goes by that I don't pray for each one of my children: that they will come to know Christ, (if they haven't already), that they will some day find a Christian mate, that they will be able to stand against whatever life brings them.

I happened across this poem, and it's the desire of my heart that someday my children will feel the same way as the author of this poem...

A Mother Who Prays
Author Unknown

Some have had kings in their lineage,
Some to whom honor was paid.
Not blest of my ancestors - but,
I have a mother who prays.

I have a mother who prays for me
And pleads with the Lord every day for me.
Oh what a difference it makes for me -
I have a mother who prays.

Some have worldly success
And trust in riches they've made -
This is my surest asset,
I have a mother who prays.

My mother's prayers cannot save me,
Only mine can avail;
But mother introduced me to Someone -
Someone who never could fail.

Oh yes...I have a mother who prays for me
And pleads with the Lord every day for me.
O what a difference it makes for me -
I have a mother who prays.

If you aren't praying for your children, now is the best time to start.

VeggieTales.com - A Great New Site for Kids

2011-03-03T23:05:00.005-05:00

It is no secret how much I love VeggieTales - or how much my KIDS love VeggieTales. The movies are perfect for the whole family, and I never get tired of hearing the silly songs or watching the same movie over and over again.

Now, VeggieTales is taking off on another adventure - this time on the world wide web! That's right! There's a brand new site, perfect for the kids! Just head to VeggieTales.com and check it out.

I showed my kids the website the other day, and Zander and Jace are hooked! They played games, watched videos, did activities, and even sent an e-card to their Daddy to brighten up his day. Even Lucy was enthralled with the SweetPea activities. It's her favorite VeggieTale story, and she loved playing the Rescue SweetPea game.

I love that there's now a VeggieTales site that's perfect for my kids. I don't have to worry about what they might see or click on when they're accessing the site, and I can just let them play to their hearts content.

Thank you, VeggieTales for creating a site for kids. My kids and I are huge fans, and I'm thrilled to be able to share this wonderful news with my readers.

Head on over to VeggieTales.com today and start playing. It's free to access, and your kids will have tons of fun! Plus, there are lots of activities you can do on there together, making it perfect for entertaining the whole family. And if you feel like shopping, you can check out the new VeggieTales Store where you'll find lots of VeggieTales merchandise - DVDs, Toys, Books, Music, and so much more!

Disclaimer: I was contacted by a representative of VeggieTales.com, and asked to announce the launch of their new website. I will receive a gift certificate to the VeggieTales shop as a thank you for my time.

Shutterfly Giveaway! ($10 off Any Shutterfly Purchase - 10 Winners! - 10/19)

2010-09-28T09:00:00.001-04:00

You may or may not know that I'm a huge fan of Shutterfly. If you happen to read my other blog, I've often talked about how much I love Shutterfly and all the different products they offer.

You can find anything that you're looking for on the Shutterfly website: from Photobooks to Photo Jewelry, Bridal Shower Invitations to Wedding Announcements, even baby shower invitations to birth announcements. And that's only the start! Once you start browsing the Shutterfly website, you'll be blown away by all the different products they offer, and all at affordable prices!

To help spread the word about Shutterfly's affordable Wedding Shower Invitations, bridal shower invitiations, and wedding announcements, they're giving 10 of my readers $10 off any Shutterfly purchase. And there's no minimum purchase required! It's time to start Christmas shopping!

And as an added bonus, Shutterfly is giving ALL of my readers a coupon code for 30 free prints! Got some pictures just sitting on your memory card that you've put off printing? No more excuses! With the code LINKOFFER, you'll get 30 free prints. No catch! Ok, wait. There's one catch: The offer doesn't last forever. In fact, it ends October 16, 2010, so you've gotta hurry. Don't delay. Use the code LINKOFFER at checkout and enjoy those 30 free prints.

Now, let's get to this fantastic giveaway for these 10 coupons for $10 off any Shutterfly purchase! Remember: There's no minimum purchase required. Plus, the coupon codes don't expire until March 31, 2011, so if you're anxiously awaiting the arrival of a new baby, want to wait until Christmas, or whatever, you've got plenty of time to use the coupon.

(And don't forget to head to the Shutterfly website and redeem the code LINKOFFER for your 30 free prints!)

To Enter
Mandatory: Visit the Wedding Announcements section of the Shutterfly website and then come back here and tell me which design is your favorite.
*Mandatory. If this is not done, you cannot win.

Want Extra Entries?

Tell me how you'll use the $10 off coupon. (1 additional entry.)

Blog About this Giveaway. Be sure to include a link to SuperMom Sanctuary and Shutterfly. (5 extra entries)

Subscribe to us via email. (2 extra entries.)

Subscribe to us via reader. (1 extra entry.)

Become a fan of SuperMom Sanctuary on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook first name and last initial, please.)

Become a fan of Shutterfly on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook first name and last initial, please.)

Leave a comment on the Shutterfly Facebook Wall and tell them that Angie @ SuperMom Sanctuary sent you. (One time - leave a link to your comment.)

Share this giveaway on Facebook. (Once per DAY - just leave a link, or copy/paste text that you posted with your Facebook User Name.)

Follow SuperMom Sanctuary and Shutterfly on twitter. (Leave your twitter id, please!)

Tweet about this contest. (1 Tweet Per DAY.)

Grab our button and put it on your blog. (Leave us a link to your blog, please!)

Add us to your blog roll. (Leave a link to your blog, please!)

Follow our blog publicly - either through Google's Followers Gadget or through Facebook's Networked Blogs. (Leave a comment for each one that you do. Anonymous following doesn't count.)

Write a review of SuperMom Sanctuary on Alexa. (3 extra entries. Leave your Alexa profile name, please.)

Stumble or Digg this post. (Once. Please leave your stumbledupon or digg username.)

Fine Print: Contest is open to residents of the US. If you already do any of the above, you qualify. Please leave a comment for each of the extra entries you complete. However, you must first leave the required comment as stated above. Giveaway will end on October 19th at 11:59pm (EST), and the winner will be selected via random.org. Winner will be notified via email upon selection, and will have 48 hours to claim their prize.

Disclaimer: I was contacted on behalf of Shutterfly. I have not been compensated for this post in any way. The sponsor is fulfilling the winners' prizes as stated above.

VeggieTales Live Show Winner!

2010-09-27T10:37:00.000-04:00

I'm so sorry that I'm late posting the winner of the Live Show giveaway!

Thank you to everyone that entered! I had such a blast watching the videos. Y'all are so talented!

Now, let's get to the winner!

Here's the number that Random.org selected:

And here's the winning comment:

(You can see her video here: http://www.southernyankeemix.com/2010/09/veggie-tales-live-and-silly-song.html)

Congratulations! I've sent an email your way. Please respond by Wednesday at noon or a new winner will be selected.

Thanks again to everyone that participated!

VeggieTales Live: Sing Yourself Silly (Giveaway - 9/24)

2010-09-03T10:05:00.002-04:00

Starting later this month, VeggieTales can be seen in a LIVE Show! All your favorite VeggieTales Characters live on stage. Can you even begin to imagine how excited your kids would be to see Bob, Larry, and all the other Veggies right in front of them? I know my kids would flip. I so wish they were coming to the Atlanta area, because I'd love to take my kids. My hope is that the live tour does so well that they expand the tour to include lots more cities.

Here's a short synopis of what the show is about:

The Veggies are at it again! Bob, Larry and the whole crew are taking to the stage with the silliest Silly Song Countdown ever! They have prepared the best of the best, the most classic of the classic, and the absolute silliest of the silly. But sometimes silliness just isn't enough! Archie prefers lesson songs, Mr. Lunt wants to sing about food, and Jimmy and Jerry are stuck in the 80's! Everyone wants their turn, and their songs in the show, but there's only so much time! The entire VeggieTales crew will have to learn the importance of sharing to make this show work!

A high-energy song and dance spectacular for the whole family, this show will have you singing along, dancing in the aisles and smiling so hard your teeth will ache! Fan favorites include classic silly songs such as His Cheeseburger, I Love My Lips, The Hairbrush Song, and so many more! So join your favorite singing and dancing Veggies and SING YOURSELF SILLY!

VeggieTales contacted me recently and gave me an offer to pass along to my readers that I just couldn't pass up!

First, I get to give you a discount code where you can save $3 on each ticket (up to 10 tickets)! Here are the details on that:

If you click on that coupon, it will take you directly to the list of shows. (You can also click here if you have any problems: https://bigidea.com/other/live2010/tix.html Just use coupon code SUPERMOMVEGGIE when you purchase your tickets.)

Second, I get to give one lucky winner tickets to the live show for their family, access to the character meet and greet, and a free DVD library from VeggieTales. WOW! What an awesome prize pack!

Now, because this is such a big giveaway, I'm going to make you work for the prize! There will be lots of chances for extra entries, but the Mandatory Entry is a little bit different this time. Don't worry, I promise it will be TONS of fun!

For the Mandatory Entry, you must upload a video to youtube (or another video-sharing website) of yourself and/or your kids singing your favorite VeggieTales song. Your first comment MUST contain a link to your video. (And, yes, I will check to make sure you've uploaded a video somewhere.) At the close of the giveaway, I'll randomly select a comment below, and that winner will receive the entire prize pack! And, the winner will also have their video posted on the Live Show Facebook page. You could become famous!

Ready to get started?

To Enter
Leave a comment here with a link to your video of you and/or your kid(s) singing your favorite VeggieTales song.
*Mandatory. If this is not done, you cannot win.

Want Extra Entries?

Blog About this Giveaway. Be sure to include a link to SuperMom Sanctuary and VeggieTales. (5 extra entries - IF you include your video in your post, give yourself 5 MORE entries for 10 extra entries!)

Subscribe to us via email. (2 extra entries.)

Subscribe to us via reader. (1 extra entry.)

Become a fan of SuperMom Sanctuary on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook first name and last initial, please.)

Become a fan of VeggieTales on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook first name and last initial, please.)

Get an extra point if you leave a comment on theVeggieTales Facebook Fan wall and tell them that Angie @ SuperMom Sanctuary sent you. (One time. Leave a link to your comment, please.)

Share this giveaway on Facebook. (Once per DAY - just leave a link, or copy/paste text that you posted with your Facebook User Name.)

Follow SuperMom Sanctuary on twitter. (Leave your twitter id, please!)

Tweet about this contest. (1 Tweet Per DAY.)

Grab our button and put it on your blog. (Leave us a link to your blog, please!)

Add us to your blog roll. (Leave a link to your blog, please!)

Follow our blog publicly - either through Google's Followers Gadget or through Facebook's Networked Blogs. (Leave a comment for each one that you do. Anonymous following doesn't count.)

Write a review of SuperMom Sanctuary on Alexa. (3 extra entries. Leave your Alexa profile name, please.)

Stumble this post. (Once. Please leave your stumbledupon username.)

Fine Print: Contest is open to residents of the US. If you already do any of the above, you qualify. Please leave a comment for each of the extra entries you complete. However, you must first leave a link to your video. (I WILL BE CHECKING!) Giveaway will end on September 24th at 11:59pm (EST), and the winner will be selected via random.org. Winner will be notified via email upon selection, and will have 48 hours to claim their prize.

Disclaimer: I was contacted by a member of the VeggieTales pr team. I was in no way compensated for this post and did not receive a prize pack to review or any other type of product. However, I will receive a small compensation for each coupon code that is redeemed. The sponsor is fulfilling the winner's prize as stated above.

Sweetpea Beauty: A Lesson about True Beauty from VeggieTales (Review)

2010-08-31T07:45:00.002-04:00

I am a huge fan of VeggieTales. Ask my kids. Sometimes, I think I get more excited about the new movies than they do. I love the important lessons they teach in a fun, lighthearted way.

Recently, I was introduced to Sweetpea Beauty, and I couldn't wait to introduce her to my almost 4 year old, Lucy. Lucy is very much in the "princess" stage. She loves all things beautiful, but I don't want her to think that life is about outer beauty. I want her to understand that God wants us to be beautiful on the inside as well as the outside.

Sweetpea Beauty was just what Lucy needed. From the moment the DVD arrived in it's beautiful pink case, she was hooked. We popped the movie into the DVD player, grabbed a bowl of popcorn and couldn't wait for the show to start. Lucy didn't move the entire time. She'd laugh when things were funny, and she'd become so concerned when characters were sad.

The movie starts with the story of Snoodlerella, a quirky young girl that gets a makeover before the big ball at the palace. Yet at midnight, she loses all the beauty that was given to her. The king comes out and asks for the last dance, and through his song, he shows her that she's beautiful because of who she is, not because of what she looks like. And I have to admit, it really got to me. It may be pregnancy hormones, but the thought of how our Savior loves us, no matter what, moved me to tears. The entire story was beautifully written and really made the whole DVD.

Next, we were entertained with a Silly Song. Oh, how I love the Silly Songs. The kids and I always look forward to a new Silly Song on each DVD, and this one did not disappoint. Just be forewarned, you may never do a load of laundry again without singing, "They're pants if you're short and shorts if you're tall." At least I haven't been able to.

After the Silly Song, the story of Sweetpea Beauty came on. What I expected was nothing like what I got. I truly expected a "remake" of Sleeping Beauty, told in VeggieTale fashion. What I got was the story of a girl who sees beauty in every single one of God's creation, and helps teach a queen that it's so much more important to take care of things with wisdom and honor and with God's help than it is to worry about what you look like. It really was such a great story, and it has opened up a whole new world for Lucy.

At the end of the DVD is a new song by Nichole Nordeman called "Beautiful for Me." Absolutely beautiful song, and I recommend purchasing the Sweetpea's Songs for Girls CD just so you can have a copy of it.

Once the movie was over, Lucy and I had a chance to talk about the movie and the message behind it... something I've been wanting to do after every Princess movie she's watched lately. Only this time, there was real meaning and real purpose to the movie. While Lucy is still very young, and still has much to learn, this DVD has really opened some doors and is exactly the kind of "princess" message I want to convey to my daughter. I am so thankful I had the opportunity to review this movie. I can't even begin to tell you what a blessing it has been to me.

Along with the Sweetpea Beauty DVD, we also received the Sweetpea's Songs for Girls CD as well as the 365 Bedtime Devos for Girls devotional book.

The CD is wonderful. It has the new Nichole Nordeman song on it, as well as 11 other beautiful songs. The only thing I wish is that it had more of the songs from the movie on it. I loved the song that the King sang to Snoodlerella, and wish I could get my hands on it. Lucy loves the CD, and as soon as we hop in the car now, the first thing she asks is if she can listen to "her" CD. I'm more than happy to oblige because I love the message put forth in each of the songs.

The devotional book is awesome. We have family devotions each night before bed, but we've also started reading these after our regular devotional. While they're written for girls, there are ideas and stories in this book that can be applied to boys and girls. For example, I was skimming through the book the other night, and came across Day 148. At the end of that short devotional is a Bedtime Prayer that simply states, "Dear Lord, help me remember that I don't have to be perfect to be wonderful. Amen." Wow. What a powerful statement in one little sentence. The only thing that I don't like is that so many versions of the Bible are used in the book. So, instead of reading the verse from the book, we grab our King James Version Bible and read it from there. It gets the kids digging in the word, and it still applies to the story, every time.

I love Sweetpea Beauty, and I am so excited that VeggieTales finally came out with a princess movie. I hope that they will continue to create more Sweetpea Beauty stories and encourage the girls of today to live by God's standards and not the world's. With outward beauty being so predominant in today's society, it's nice to know there's someone out there who still cares about what God's interested in.

Thank you, VeggieTales, for allowing me and my daughters to experience Sweetpea Beauty for ourselves. We just love everything that she stands for. Keep up the good work!

To purchase any of the Sweetpea Beauty items, or for more information on VeggieTales, head to www.bigidea.com Items are also available for purchase in many Christian book stores, general market stores, as well as online.

Disclaimer: I was contacted by a representative of VeggieTales and was sent the items necessary to facilitate my honest and thorough review. All opinions stated in this post are 100% my own. I have not been compensated in any other way for this post.

"I am So Glad...."

2010-08-28T11:55:00.000-04:00

The other day, I saw a status update on Facebook from one of my friends. It said, "I am so glad God doesn't treat us the way we treat our children."

For some reason, this really got to me. I am not the perfect mom. Not the "Super Mom" that I want to be. I mess up. I yell when I know I shouldn't, and I get angry when my kids don't do as they're told.

And then it hit me. I constantly let God down. How disappointed in me He must get. Yet, he never gives up on me. His love never changes. He is always the same. Always the kind, fair, and just God that He is.

The next time that one of my kids upsets me, (because I am certain it will happen), I need to take a moment to stop and think about how I've upset God that day. Have I walked in His word the entire day? Have I asked His forgiveness for the wrong that I've done? Have I been the light to my children that I know I'm supposed to be? If not, I need to get it right before I "react" to what my child is done.

It's not a complicated thought, but it's certainly one that got me thinking.

Have you seen a Facebook status update from a friend that got you thinking? I'd love to have you share it in the comments.

Thought for a Sunday Morning

2010-04-18T07:00:00.000-04:00

Sunday is my favorite day of the week. A day when I put everything else aside - dishes, laundry, housework, everything - and spend the day focused on my God and my family.

This week, I've had a verse on my heart that I just wanted to share with you.

Proverbs 16:3 - Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

When we truly commit our lives to Christ, He directs our paths. Giving Him full control means that we will have the assurance that we will know the direction He wants our life to take. We won't have to wonder if we are in His will if we are simply following Him.

Read the verse again. Now, tell me what it means to you.

Coupon Mom's Guide Winner Announced!

2010-04-12T12:00:00.001-04:00

It's time to announce the winner of the Coupon Mom's Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half Giveaway!

Here's the number that random.org gave me:

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
71
Timestamp: 2010-04-12 15:41:09 UTC

That means our winner is....

#71. EmmysBoosAndRawrs said... I now follow both sites on twitter as @boosandrawrs
April 11, 2010 5:49 PM

Congratulations! I've sent an email your way. Please respond by Wednesday at noon EST, or a new winner will be selected.

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Thoughts for a Sunday

2010-04-11T07:02:00.000-04:00

Spring is here - a time when the earth comes alive again.

As Christians, we must also remember to take time to renew and refresh our spirits in our Savior.

Here's a Bible passage to help us reflect on that today:

Psalms 511 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

Have a wonderful Sunday. Spend some time with the Lord today!

The Coupon Mom's Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half (Review & Giveaway -CLOSED)

2010-03-25T08:00:00.005-04:00

We've all heard that clipping coupons can save you money, right? But is it really worth it to find the coupons, clip them, and then use them? Really, how much money can you save?

Stephanie Nelson, the founder of couponmom.com, has written a new book called The Coupon Mom's Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half. The book offers money-saving techniques for busy, rookie, and varsity shoppers.

Here's a bit of information about the book:

A book that pays for itself! The creator of couponmom.com, with 1.6 million subscribers and counting, shares her strategic money-saving techniques for saving big while living well

Americans are hungry for bargains these days, but one woman has developed the ultimate strategy for enjoying a feast of savings. Taking the nation by storm, with appearances ranging from The Oprah Winfrey Show, Today and Good Morning America, Stephanie Nelson has shown countless women and men how to save thousands of dollars by becoming savvy coupon clippers-without sacrificing nutrition or quality. Now, in The Coupon Mom's Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half, Nelson demonstrates all of the tricks of the trade-beyond coupons and tailor-made for a variety of shopper lifestyles. Whether you're a "busy" shopper and have only a small amount of time each week to devote to finding the best deal; a "rookie" shopper who is ready to put more effort into cutting bills; or a seasoned "varsity" shopper who is looking for new ways to get the deepest discounts possible, this book offers techniques that will make it easy to save money at any level and on any timetable.

Extending her Strategic Shopping protocols to mass merchandisers, wholesale clubs, natural-food stores, drugstores, and other retailers, Nelson proves that value and variety can go hand in hand. With meal- planning tips, recipes, and cost-comparison guides, as well as inspiring real-life stories from the phenomenal Coupon Mom movement, this is a priceless guide to turning the checkout lane into a road of riches.

About the Author
Stephanie Nelson, AKA The Coupon Mom, has been featured widely in the media-from The Oprah Winfrey Show, Today, and Good Morning America to The New York Times, Ladies' Home Journal and The Seattle Times. She holds a degree in finance and has worked in marketing at Procter & Gamble and Marriott.

Sounds fabulous, right? After all, we all want to save more money!

My Review of The Coupon Mom's Guide
I received a copy of The Coupon Mom's Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half to get my opinion of it. I read the entire book cover to cover in one sitting. As a busy mom of 5, with a very modest income, I am desperate to enter the world of couponing and learn how to save money on every trip to the grocery store. I needed to know if it really is worth it to find the coupons (and print them if necessary) and then cut them out, and then actually purchase the items.

I've used coupons in the past - here and there. But the problem I was having was that I would buy things that I didn't really need. (There are always great coupons for cookies and junk food. Have you noticed that?) So, I stopped using coupons altogether, because I was convinced I could never use them the way I see other moms using them.

Then I read the book The Coupon Mom's Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half. I learned a ton of tricks to really help me save money. For example - and while it sounds so simple - I really did notice a difference: Combine coupons with the store's discount card and watch the savings rack up.

I will tell you that normally, I don't take a list to the grocery store with me. In fact, I don't even plan what I'm going to buy. I walk in - usually with 5 kids in tow - and buy enough food to make breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the week. If something's on sale at the store, I count it as a bonus, but I never went with a purpose or plan - or with a goal of trying to save money. It was always get in, get out, and get with the day.

I decided to actually plan for my shopping trip after reading Stephanie Nelson's book. I went to her site - couponmom.com - and printed off a ton of coupons. Literally. I couldn't get the coupons to Red Plum to work, but I was still armed with pages and pages of coupons I had printed out.

I enlisted Ashley - my 12 year old - to help me cut out the coupons while I wrote up our shopping list. As she would cut out the coupons, I would decide if it was "list" worthy or not. If it was, I would add the item to my list and place the coupon in an envelope. I also went through the store's weekly ad to see what items they would have on sale. After I had my entire list written up, I went through the envelope of coupons and sorted them in order of store aisles. (It helps to have a husband who worked the night shift stocking the shelves of our grocery store!)

All in all, it took me almost 2 hours to plan for this grocery shopping trip. That's a long time for a busy mom. But, when I got to the checkout line, and the kid scanned in all of my coupons, I almost dropped to the floor. I saved $71.33 that that trip. Turns out that our local grocery store will double coupons automatically - and the more you spend, the more coupons they'll double. Plus, I didn't leave the store with a bunch of junk, either. I got plenty of food to feed my family for the week, and saved a ton of money in the process. I'm hooked!

Now, I'm not saying that I'm a coupon queen or anything. I still have a lot to learn. But, I have dog-eared a ton of pages in The Coupon Mom's Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half that I'm constantly going back to. I will say that there is a lot of common sense information in the book, but sometimes we all need a refresher course. But, all in all, Stephanie Nelson gives clear, concise, easy-to-follow, and easy-to-practice information all throughout her book. And while some of her money-saving tips are never anything I'll use, (like making my own yogurt - ick!), there are others in there that are really great. (I cleaned my oven in no time with baking soda thanks to her tips!)

I also loved that she has an entire chapter dedicated to saving on Organic Products. When I think of coupons, I think of junk or processed food. Stephanie gives real tips on how you can even save money on organic food - and they don't all include growing it yourself. (Although she does mention that.) :)

Overall, this book is fabulous, and it is a resource that I will go back to time and time again. I have a feeling that as time goes on, and I study the book and the couponing process even more, I will be saving even more. (And hopefully it won't take me 2 hours to write up my shopping list every time, either!)

Want to try The Coupon Mom's Guide for Yourself?
To Buy: The Coupon Mom's Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half can be purchased on the following websites:

You can WIN! I get to giveaway a copy of The Coupon Mom's Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half to one lucky winner!

To Enter
Head over to couponmom.com and take a look around. Then, come back here and tell me one thing you found interesting or that you learned while on their website.
*Mandatory. If this is not done, you cannot win.

Want Extra Entries?

Sign up for a free membership at couponmom.com. (Please leave the email address that you signed up with so that I can confirm the account was made.)
Blog About this Giveaway by copying and pasting the following (5 extra entries) :

As a mom of 5, Angie at Super Mom Sanctuary is always looking for ways to cut costs and save money. To help her readers learn ways to save their own money, she is giving a copy of Stephanie Nelson's (founder of couponmom.com) new book: The Coupon Mom's Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half to one lucky winner! If you like to save money, this is one giveaway you won't want to miss out on! Stop by before 11:59pm ET on April 11th, get all the details, and enter to win!
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Fine Print: Contest is open to US Residents. If you already do any of the above, you qualify. Please leave a comment for each of the extra entries you complete. However, you must first leave the mandatory entry. Giveaway will end on April 11th at 11:59pm (EST), and the winner will be selected via random.org. Winner will be notified via email upon selection, and will have 48 hours to claim their prize.

Disclaimer:I was contacted by a representative of The Penguin Group on behalf of Stephanie Nelson and The Coupon Mom. They provided the free copy of the book for my honest and unbiased review, and will be fulfilling the winner's book as well. I was in no other way compensated for this post, and the free book in no way boosted my review. All opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. Others may have different results or opinions after using this product.

This review can also be found on 5 Vinez Monkeys, and you can enter to win there as well!

"But if not..."

2010-03-08T07:15:00.005-05:00

This week, I was reading the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel chapter 3.

I came across these two verses, and although I've read them dozens of times, and have heard this story hundreds of times, one particular phrase really stuck out.

Here are the verses that I want to focus on:

Daniel 3
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

The phrase I want to focus on is found in verse 18: "But if not..."

When you read verses 16 and 17, you see that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are talking directly to the king. They refused to disobey their Lord and bow down before the golden image. They knew that God was mighty, and that He could deliver them from the fiery furnace. Yet, they continued on with "But if not, be it known unto the, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."

Basically, these 3 men were telling the king, "We know that our God is able to protect us from you, and from the fiery furnace. BUT, even if he chooses not to deliver us from this, we are still going to do what is right in his eyes." Now, I know I'm paraphrasing, but isn't that what you get from the story?

The phrase brings me back to a time in my life when I was so angry at God. My father was sick and dying of a rare cancer. I knew that God had the power to heal my Daddy, and that was all I wanted. I wouldn't consider any other option. I wanted my Daddy strong, healthy, and at home where he belonged - not sick and dying in a hospital bed.

My Daddy, however, never stopped praising the Lord or serving him. Ever. He even wrote a song about how we need to spend more time serving the Lord because we just don't know how much time we have left here on earth. He witnessed to the unsaved that came to visit him, and he never got angry with God.

My Daddy was much like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He knew that God could heal him of his cancer, but even if he didn't, Daddy was still going to serve Him.

Sure, we trust God. We know He is all powerful and can do anything according to his will. But, just how much are we willing to serve Him? If we knew that some harm could come to us, would we still be so willing to give up everything? Would we follow Christ no matter what?

10 years ago, I couldn't say that I would follow Christ no matter what. I became angry with God when He took my Daddy from me. But, now, I see that it was all a part of His perfect plan.

Yet, still, even today, I struggle with this. When bad things happen, I wonder why God allows it. It is a huge downfall of mine, and one that I pray daily that I will overcome. I want to be willing to serve God come sunshine or rain. I want to have the strength and courage that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego possessed. I want to serve God no matter what He decides is best.

What will you decide to do today? Will you trust God to take full control - no matter what? Or will you continue to take matters into your own hands?

Several Prayer Requests to Share

2010-03-01T07:15:00.004-05:00

While I was gone this weekend, I received several prayer requests that I need to share with you. Please take a few moments to pray for those who have taken the time to send in their request.

A request from Lori:

My husband has been unemployed for over a year. He got a call back for a welding job and he goes to take his welding test on wed. please pray and agree with us that he will pass his test with a steady hand and not be nervous! also please pray and agree that we have a safe and healthy delivery for our beautiful little girl on the way as well as myself. Thank you. God bless.

A request from the Black Family:

i am seek out prays for my family we have been having a financial hardship, there are days we do not know if we have enough money to pay bills,feed our kids and then some. with child care being so expensive where we live i have no choice but to stay home, my husband already works 2 jobs and still it seems as just not enough. we have recenlty had a car broke down and family pitch in to buy as a 1985 car that is nice however is a gas gusler! months go where we pay only rent and then put other bills behind. i just ask for prays for strength and wisdom to over come our hardships, look pass our woes and see the light ahead. thank you

And, lastly, a request from Jeff:

1. my house would sell if that is God's will - i cannot live there as i was driven out by electronic harrassment from the Government. i am told by proffesionals an organization called DARPA.

2. my car would sell if that is God's will, an electronic device was implanted into it which is used to harrass me daily

3. i would be able to find a job

Dear Heavenly Father, I bring these requests before you. You know the needs of the people above, and you have full control over their situations. Times are so difficult for so many right now, Lord, and most days it seems impossible to survive. However, you have promised in your Word that you will supply all of our needs. You care for those who belong to you, and we can trust that you will provide. Comfort these families. Help them to look Up and remember that you are in control and you love them. We ask all this in your name. Amen.

A Thought for a Sunday...

2010-02-28T07:00:00.001-05:00

Another Sunday. Another day to set aside and give completely to our Lord and Savior.

Here's the selection I want you to think about today:

Psalms 25
1 Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

Oh Be Careful Little Eyes....

2010-02-26T09:45:00.002-05:00

Psalms 101:3 - I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:

I had to do a lot of praying about this lesson. I'm still praying that God uses my words to have me say exactly what HE would want me to say. There are just so many ways that this could go. But my desire is to honor God in everything that's said and done on this blog.

I thought that this verse said it all for this topic. "Wicked thing" doesn't really have to be an object, a person, or a magazine or computer screen. A wicked thing is anything that takes your eyes off of Christ. When our eyes are off of Him, we fall into sin.

There are wicked things all around us. They're going to enter our line of vision, no matter how hard we try to keep them away. The problems arise when we "set" them before our eyes. We allow them to stay there. We dwell on them, keep our focus on them, and forget that God is in control and wants the very best for us.

May we always have the mindset of Psalm 141:8 that says, "But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord:"

As parents, we need to remember how many temptations there are for our children and their eyes. TV shows, internet websites, even boyfriends and girlfriends can cause even the strongest child to stumble. Pray daily for your child. Ask God to keep a hedge of protection around them. And let your child know that you love them and you're there for them. Talk to them. Keep the lines of communication open. And watch what you're putting in front of your own eyes. After all, you're the one they're looking up to. What do you want them to see?

If you have a problem with your eyes, and you've noticed a shift in your focus, give it over to the Lord. He can solve any problem. You just have to be willing to really give it up and let Him have control. It will be the best decision you ever made.

(The remainder of the lessons will follow next week. This weekend, I'm taking some time off and focusing on my husband and our marriage.)

Oh Be Careful...

2010-02-24T09:00:00.001-05:00

For the last few weeks, God has laid a song on my heart. The song is one that you probably sung in Sunday School as a child, or have taught your own children to sing. The song is "Oh Be Careful..." You know the one: "Oh be careful little eyes what you see. Oh be careful little eyes what you see. For the Father up above is looking down with love. Oh be careful little eyes what you see." The song goes on to talk about our ears, our mouth, and our hands.

If you are a fan of Christian Music and have heard of Casting Crowns, they have a song that really hits home and is based off of this children's song.

Take a moment to listen:

Over the next week or so, I want to break up the words of the children's song and touch on each part - our hands, eyes, mouth, and ears.

As parents, we have little eyes that are constantly watching us. We all need a reminder now and then about the basics.

I hope that this short Bible study will be a blessing to you. I'll start with our eyes in tomorrow's lesson. Please join me, and add any comments that you have.

Prayer Request:

2010-02-24T02:04:00.000-05:00

Phil sent me this message, and I wanted to pass it along to all of you:

Please Pray this Prayer as the HOLY SPIRIT leads or Pray over the parts
of this Prayer you agree with....Please pray GOD gives me all the desires
of my heart that are righteous in GODs eyes In JESUS Name...Pray GOD sends
me on the mission He has for me now In JESUS Name...Pray GOD raises me a
mile above Satan and those used by Satan to glorify GOD In JESUS
Name...Pray GOD Blesses me financially now and always In JESUS Name...Pray
GOD heals my body completely In JESUS Name.Pray GOD brings me my soulmate
if its meant for me to be married,if its not meant for me to be married
Pray GOD takes away all desires to be with any woman In JESUS Name

...............
Please give this Prayer Request to your Prayer Warriors,church staff or do whatever you want with this prayer request...Pray if there are any Demons blocking this Prayer Request,Pray
GOD will remove them from blocking this Prayer Request..Thank You very much.

Dear Lord, I bring this man before you. You are perfect, God, and you have set before each one of us a perfect and holy will. May this man find peace and know that he is following the path you have set before him. Let him live a life that is pleasing to you and you alone. Bless him and keep your hands upon him. Amen.

Prayer Request: Update & More Prayer Needed

2010-02-23T06:00:00.003-05:00

I received an email from Lora, who recently submitted this prayer request. She is asking for prayer again, and I wanted to share it with you:

I am asking for another prayer. My 18 y/o son is still making poor choices and struggling with his faith and finances. I ask that God would show favor upon him and forgive him. That he would put the Holy Spirit within him and turn his life to Christ.

My husband also continues to struggle with his faith and his relationship with our son.

Please Lord come into our home and take control of it. Help us to open our hearts and minds to your will and be a better Christian family.

Dear Lord, we come to you and ask you to be with this family. Be with this son, Lord. He's so young, and has so much to learn. Help him to understand that he needs his parents and that everything they do for him is out of love. Help the parents to deal with the situation with love and respect. Give them guidance on how to handle the situation. Be with this husband as he struggles with his faith. Help him to step up into a true relationship with you and realize that in order to gain control, he must be willing to give You full control. You can heal this broken family, Lord. Help them to open their minds and hearts to the things you have for them. Your will is perfect, and when we trust you, there is peace. Bless this family. Give them wisdom and strength in all areas. Amen.

Prayer Request: Marriage Reunion

2010-02-23T05:45:00.001-05:00

I received the following anonymous email and wanted to share it with you all.

Please say a prayer for me and my husband Peter as we are separated for the past 6 months after just 3 months of marriage and our relationship that it may prosper and grow to the highest heights of love and closeness i.e. commitment to each other and that the strife, mistrust and lack of union may vanish.

Companionship needs to improve and the talk of marriage reunion, but it's nothing if it isn't blessed by God or if he and i don't stick it out and act in faith on those still small whisperings of our hearts.

please pray for us that our hearts become one.I ask this thru Christ our Lord! Amen.

Dear Heavenly Father, I bring this couple before you, Lord. Only you know their situation, and only you know their hearts. You've ordained marriage as a special bond where two become one flesh, and it seems this couple is struggling to do that. Help them, Lord. Help them see the importance of coming together, trusting in one another, and putting the other's needs before their own. Help them to openly and honestly communicate with each other. But most of all, help them to put their trust and their strength in you. You are a mighty God and are able to do mighty things. Give them peace and strength that only you can give. Amen.

A Day of Rest

2010-02-21T07:15:00.002-05:00

Today is the Lord's Day. We must be careful to set today aside as a special day. A day to simply reflect on the Lord and the goodness He has shown to us. Forget about the laundry. The dishes can wait. Just take time today to reflect on God's love for you.

Psalm 121
1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

He is always there for us. No matter what. Give Him the glory He deserves and make some time for Him today.

My Sincerest Apologies... and an Explanation

2010-02-20T07:45:00.001-05:00

If you've stopped by in the last few weeks, I'm certain you have noticed the lack of new posts going up. That is completely my fault, and I feel that as the owner of this blog, I owe you an apology as well as an explanation.

I am not Super Mom. I want to be. I want to be able to do it all, have it all, and look great while it happens. But, as each day passes, I find more and more that I can't do it all. When I try to do anything in my own strength, I fail. It isn't until I completely give things over to Christ that I begin to succeed.

The same is true with this blog. It started out as something personal. A way to better my Christian life and build my relationship with my Lord and Savior. A way to get away from the stress of every day life, and reflect on the words God has for me.

And then I went and tried to make it more than that. I tried to make it about gaining readers, building my "stats," and getting people to stop by the blog with giveaways, specials, and big "to-do"s.

I told myself that I was doing it for all the right reasons: more readers means that there's a better chance that someone will hear the Gospel and want to be saved. After all, that's what my goal as a Christian should be: to bring others to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Right? I spent weeks arguing with God, telling Him that I could do this. I could make this blog huge - and it would all be for Him.

For Him? Really? Didn't I mean about me? After all, it's my name as the author of the post. It's my words that are being used to bring His word to others. And how quickly I have learned that by making it all about me, I caused it to fail.

For weeks, I have wrestled with this. I couldn't come on here and post, knowing that I would only be speaking in vain. So I let it sit, thinking that if I said nothing, it would do less harm. But that's not helping anyone either. I need this little blog. It gets me searching in my Bible, digging deeper and deeper to find exactly what God wants me to know. Even if it doesn't help one other person, it has caused me to find refuge in my Savior's arms. And right now, that's where I need to be.

No longer is this blog all about me, but about Him. I pray that every word typed on this blog is straight from the Holy Spirit. May I not focus on anything but what He would have me to say or do. And, I pray that you can find your own path to a better relationship with Christ. I challenge you to take the words I say and dig deeper yourself. And if I'm wrong about anything, tell me. I'm not perfect. I can't claim to be. So if I mess up, let me know.

Also, please know that I am still here, and still willing to help you in any way that I can. Don't ever hesitate to contact me with a prayer request or a topic that you'd like me to talk about.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by. I want you to know how much I appreciate you. And, please forgive me for the wrong that I've done to you and to this blog.

From this moment on, may God be glorified in all that is said and done here.

ANEW Rejuvenate Skin Revitalizing System Winner

2010-02-04T09:00:00.001-05:00

It's time to announce the winner of the ANEW Rejuvenate Skin Revitalizing System Giveaway.

Here's who Random.org picked:

That means our winner is........

243. trishden said...
Hello, I would love to try the ANEW ULTIMATE Age Defying System. Thanks for a great giveaway!
February 3, 2010 12:46 PM

Congratulations! I've sent an email your way. You have until Saturday at noon EST to claim your prize or a new winner will be selected.

How's Your Prayer Life?

2010-02-02T08:00:00.001-05:00

In the King James Bible, prayer (pray, praying, prayed) is mentioned a total of 512 times. It's pretty apparent that this is something we should be practicing every single day. Yet so many times, we "forget" to pray, or put it on the back burner and worry ourselves into a fret.

Praying is not difficult. God desires to hear from you. All you have to do is talk. Think about it for a moment. Prayer is talking directly with our Almighty Creator. Just you and Him. You can tell Him anything. Pour out your heart and soul. Prayer is a privilege.

So why is prayer so difficult? We have no problems talking to our best friend about our problems. So why is it that we can't seem to make time for our Heavenly Father?

Admit it. You've got plenty of excuses for reasons not to pray: I'm too busy. I never think about it. God doesn't really care what I have to say. If God knows everything, why do I need to talk to Him?

Here are some tips on getting a better prayer life:

Pray at a time when you can focus. Praying while lying in bed is almost a guarantee that you will fall asleep. By praying when you can stay alert will help immensely.
Remember who it is that you are talking to. You aren't talking to an acquaintance, or an old friend from high school. You are talking to the King of Kings on His direct line. When we take a moment to reflect on just how important He is, prayer takes on a whole new meaning.
Pray out loud. It's easy to let your mind wander when you pray silently to yourself. I know. I've been there. Many times. By praying out loud, it's like you really are talking directly with God. And it'll make it a lot harder to let your thoughts drift off to the dishes, the laundry, the housework, the kids.....
Find a quiet place to pray. I go into the bathroom, lock the door, and kneel beside the tub to pray. Even when it's late at night, and everyone's in bed, I still go in there to pray. It's my quiet place. While it may not be the most conventional (although it's probably the cleanest room in the house!), it works for me. (Matthew 6:6 - But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.)
Have a prayer list with you. It's easy to forget a request while you're praying. By having a list that you can physically hold in your hands, you can remember more, and pray longer and harder.
Keep a prayer journal. Some of us can express ourselves in writing so much better than we can in speech. There's nothing wrong with that. God respects your written prayer just as much as a spoken word, as long as it comes from your heart. And, it's so amazing to go back through those prayer journals and see the answers God has given to so many of the prayers in my journals. I've watched myself grow in the Lord so much over the years, and these journals are something I will treasure forever. And someday, I'll be able to pass them down to my children and show to them how important prayer is to me. My very dear friend, Jenn, has a beautiful post on her blog about her own prayer journal and offers excellent tips for starting your own.

Before I close, there's one more thought on prayer that I would like you to remember: When you pray, you don't have to be loud or obnoxious. You don't have to speak in the words of the Old English. You simply have to talk to God from your heart.

Our goal should be that of 1 Thessalonians 5:17 - to Pray without ceasing.

So, how's your prayer life?