The Large Family Logistics

Earn money for visiting sites you normally go to!

2009-11-13T16:15:00.003-05:00

Please join my network at BeRuby.com. BeRuby is a personalized web portal with links to the Internet's most popular sites. You can access all of your favorite sites from one spot./n At BeRuby you can also earn cash from your activity at selected merchants.

Click here to sign up!

CoinStar: $40 in coins will turn into $50 in gift cards

2009-11-12T19:06:00.002-05:00

Go here to find out how to turn your $40.00 in coins into $50.00 in gift cards.

Paypal: Free $10 deposit for new student accounts

2009-11-12T19:03:00.002-05:00

Go here for more details on how to get a free $10.00 deposit if you open a student account.

We got through the flu bug!

2009-11-07T13:26:00.004-05:00

Our family has officially gotten over the rotten flu bug that has been going around. It was funny because today the pediatricians office called wanting to know if I wanted to bring the kids in for the H1N1 vaccine this afternoon. I told her we will pass! I think the majority of the population has already been exposed! I think the media made this bug to be worse then it actually was!

I wanted to share a great site with you if you are interested in natural remedies: http://www.trilightherbs.com/. We use a number of their products and we are really impressed with the effectiveness of their products. We use Flew Away, BactaMune, and Scout Out. I plan on buying more of their products when our budget allows. We did have to use Tylenol and Motrin for the kids fevers, but I really think by giving them the natural supplements and herbs it helped get them better sooner.

Products we could not live without are Vitamin D, multi-vitamins, kefir, garlic, zinc lozenges, and Vitamin C. We also absolutely love Traditional Medicine's teas. We are a tea drinking family!
If any of you like the Super Mom vitamins I found an alternative. They are called Special Two, by NOW Foods. These vitamins have the exact same ingredients as the Super Mom, but a lot cheaper! I found http://www.luckyvitamin.com/ to be a great site to buy vitamins on the cheap.

Anyone have any natural medicines they recommend that they could not live without? Please share.

**Update: I spoke too soon. Our son Nick is now sick. It is strange how this flu bug is different for everyone. Nick has a headache, cough, slightly achy, and a sore throat. It almost seems more like a bad cold, but I don't think it is!

Free holiday E-book from The Old Schoolhouse!

2009-11-05T20:46:00.002-05:00

Download a free holiday e-book from The Old Schoolhouse here.

Free Sun-Rype Fruitsource Bar at GNC stores!

2009-11-05T20:10:00.002-05:00

Go here to print a coupon for a free Sun-Rype Fruitsource Bar at your local GNC store!
I think I may just print out 8 and head up to the mall sometime. I love free snacks! Especially healthy ones!
This coupon does not expire until December 31, 2009.

Amazing Pork Tenderloin in the crockpot!

2009-10-30T09:59:00.002-04:00

The Pork Tenderloin was on sale at the Price Chopper recently. It was buy 1 get 2 free so I could not resist. This is so yummy and easy!

Pork Tenderloin for the Crockpot:

4 lbs Pork Tenderloin
2 packets Onion Soup Mix
2 cups red wine (cooking)
6 Tablespoons minced garlic
6 Tablespoons soy sauce
Sprinkle top with ground black pepper

Cooks in about 4-6 hours on low.

Free Glowelle Beauty Drink samples

2009-10-26T19:56:00.001-04:00

GLOWELLE is a clinically proven antioxidant supplement to help fight the signs of aging below the skin’s surface. We want to Spread The Glow and you can help! Fill out the form on Facebook and they will send you their fabulous GLOWELLE clutch containing three GLOWELLE powder stick packs, product information and a few refreshing, beauty-boosting recipe suggestions (approx. $15 value). Then you can invite your friends to go there and get the same offer! They want everyone to have Glowing skin. Spread the Glow!
Offer valid for U.S. residents only. One sampler per person. The contact information you provide will remain strictly confidential and will not be sold to 3rd parties. Please allow 4-6 weeks for processing. Offer ends at midnight (PT) November 16, 2009. GO HERE

Thanks MoJosavings.com!

Our homeschool field trip to LeRaysville, PA

2009-10-26T19:39:00.003-04:00

We left our house at around 10:30 in the morning heading toward LeRaysville, PA to tour The LeRaysville Cheese Factory with the kids. I heard the factory was run by Old Order Amish and we all thought that would be pretty fun. Our trip began with our GPS leading us on all of these dirt roads. We finally made it to LeRaysville after over an hour, but it was well worth it for all the scenery we took in!

I was a little disappointed because we were expecting more of a tour then we received. The Amish guy inside the store was very soft spoken and shy. When I asked him to tell us a little bit about how the cheese was made while looking through the glass on a door, he spoke extremely quiet, and only looked at me and not the kids! Oh well! We did end up buying a brick of cheese and some chocolate covered peanut butter candies. When we left the cheese factory parking lot there was a sign for Stone Hearth. We were not sure what that was so we decided to follow the signs. We ended up being taken to a little country store on someones property out in the middle of nowhere. After we were done there we went to a little bulk foods store in town to buy some raw sugar. After that we went to another little country store called Elmo's where they sell hand sewn doll clothes and furniture for American Girl Dolls. Faith's birthday party was this past Saturday so she had some money with her. She was so happy to buy some doll dresses and a doll bed for a fraction of the cost!

There are more things to see in that area, we hope to go back sometime soon and explore more.

Free craft e-books!

2009-10-22T17:28:00.003-04:00

The Children's Place: 15% off coupon!

2009-10-22T17:28:00.000-04:00

Barnes & Noble: Free cookie and hot chocolate for kids!

2009-10-22T17:25:00.002-04:00

Guess where we are going this Saturday? This Saturday, October 24, 2009 bring this coupon to Barnes & Noble and get a free cookie and hot chocolate for kids! Who can beat free?

The Old Schoolhouse magazine: Free Frugal E-Book

2009-10-22T17:21:00.002-04:00

How many of you could use some frugal tips? We sure can, so when I heard The Oldschool was offering a free 100 page frugal e-book on frugal gift ideas, recipes, and some other topics, I emailed them immediately. Email Publisher@TheHomeschoolmagazine.com if you're interested!

Italian Dressing

2009-10-22T17:17:00.003-04:00

I am sure you have heard before that it is fairly easy to make your own salad dressing? I read different articles online telling people about how much more healthy it is too. I found a recipe on TheFamilyHomestead.com for Italian dressings, so I decided to try it since I had all of the ingredients.

Italian Dressing:
6 T olive oil
3 T apple cider vinegar
1/8 t minced garlic (I use the kind in the jar)
1/4 t Italian seasoning
1/4 t salt
1/8 t pepper
1 t cane juice crystals (or white sugar)

Combine all ingredients in canning jar, and shake with lid on! I doubled this recipe.

We liked this dressing, although we think it possibly would taste a little better using canola oil. olive oil has a very distinct taste, but it is better for you.

Get a free subscription to Parenting magazine or Bridal Guide magazine

2009-10-21T08:30:00.001-04:00

Go here for Parenting
Go here for Bridal Guide

How I got 7500 sheets of paper for $1.50 after rebates from OfficeMax.com

2009-10-20T08:57:00.004-04:00

I was really excited about the Office Max deals this week because we're running low on paper. And who can beat free paper? But I didn't really have time in the schedule to take all three little ones to Office Max in the next few days.

So I figured out a way to order online and actually pay less than I would pay in-store. It's a tad complicated, but hang with me while I explain how to get these items free, with free shipping, and get a little money back, too:

::Sign up for a MaxPerks card here (unless you already have a card). Write down your MaxPerks card number.

::Go to RetailMeNot, search for OfficeMax, and click through the free shipping code listed at the top of the page. This will automatically update your account to include free shipping on any order of $50 or more.

::Sign up for an account with ShopAtHome (gives 4% back on Office Max purchases plus a $5 bonus for new sign-ups, but you must earn $20 in rebates before you receive a payment) or Ebates (gives 3% back on Office Max purchases plus a $5 bonus for new sign-ups. You only have to place one order and your check will be issued at the end of the quarter.)

::Search for OfficeMax through ShopAtHome or Ebates and click through to the website.

::Buy any combination of the following free after MaxPerks items which equal $50 (so you can qualify for the free shipping): 5-Ream Case of Copy Paper (2500 sheets)--$16.99 (Limit 3); Manila Folders (100-count)--$6.99 (Limit 3); or Bankers Boxes (10-pack)--$9.99 (Limit 3) (I purchased 3 5-Ream Cases of copy paper and my total was just over $50.)

::Checkout and make sure to input your MaxPerks Rewards card number.

::Your MaxPerks Bonus Rewards card should arrive in the mail within a few weeks and should automatically be loaded with your Bonus Rewards.

::Plus, your ShopAtHome account or your EBates account will be credited with your rebate. So you'll end up only paying a few dollars or less out of pocket. (And if you are a new sign-up with ShopAtHome or Ebates, you'll get the $5 sign-up bonus which could actually turn this into a money-maker after the MaxPerks Reward and cashback rebate!)

::This deal is good through October 24, 2009.
Thanks Money Saving Mom for letting me on this great deal!

Super Yummy Garlic Cheese Pizza

2009-10-17T19:01:00.002-04:00

If you are looking for some variation in your pizza, try this yummy alternative. As an added plus garlic is really good for you!

Garlic Cheese Pizza

Make your favorite pizza crust
Spread some olive oil all over pizza crust
Sprinkle chopped garlic on top of olive oil
Top with your favorite cheese

Bake as you normally would. Really easy, and yummy!

Grandma's Rice Pudding

2009-10-09T12:46:00.003-04:00

This recipe for Rice Pudding is extremely easy and yummy! It was passed down from my dad's mom.

Grandma's Rice Pudding:

3 cans evaporated milk
3 cups of cooked Minute Rice
1 cup sugar
1 cup raisins
Cinnemon

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

2009-10-06T14:43:00.002-04:00

Life has been busy around here. I have been busy with schooling among other things. This reminds me I still need to write up the kids' quarterly reports! Never a dull moment here!

I recently bought kefir grains and a strainer set on Ebay. I have learned how easy it is to make kefir. I have as of lately learned a great deal about the benefits of probiotics. I make sure that Alexis, Nicholas, Joshua Jacob and me all get our daily dose. Joshua and Jacob because they are little, and Alexis and Nicholas because they have pretty bad allergies. We all take good multi-vitamins as well. I have been learning a lot about herbs and their uses, but still have a lot of learning to do. I have also make Kombucha. Kombucha is not my favorite, but very good for your health. We have learned that Joe has high blood pressure so he started taking a tablespoon of Flax Oil daily, hopefully it will help!

We have been trying to enjoy the fall weather before the real cold weather comes. I absolutely LOVE the the changing of the leaves! All the different colors are so beautiful! I bought a pie pumpkin and plan on making muffins with it. Last year we even baked the seeds, so we plan on doing that again.

I thought I would leave you with a recipe for making your own Earache Drops:

Take two bulbs of peeled, chopped garlic, pinch marigold leaves, pinch mullein flowers simmer over low heat with 1/4 cup high quality olive oil. Simmer 10-15 min. Store in refrigerator, warm oil slightly before using. One to two drops in the affected ear every two hours or as needed.

Homemade soy candle!

2009-09-17T14:23:00.007-04:00

My double boiler.

Ready to be be set.

These are all of my supplies I bought at AC Moore.

I need to add more scent and color for my next ones, but none-the-less I made a candle!!!

It is extemely easy to make a soy candle. Click here for directions.

School at our house

2009-09-09T20:52:00.002-04:00

Well today marked the first day of homeschool for our family. We did not cover every subject, but we did do Bible, math, english, and reading. What seems to work for our family is a somewhat predictable routine. We wake up around 7:00, eat, get dressed, and do chores. The first subject of the day is Bible. I try to have a somewhat easy breakfast ready, do two loads of laundry a day of which the children fold and put away. We don't have a whole lot of toys, so there are not too many for the younger kids to pull out and make a mess with. We keep toys to a minimum, besides we don't have a lot of room for toys! After every meal we do the dishes so that we don't have a stack at the end of the day. I have a different chore I do each day of the week in order to keep our home clean and presentable for people to pop by!

A new focus for me this year is to teach Joshua, our 4 year old to read. It should not be too difficult since Joshua seems eager to learn and "do" school like the older kids. Alexis is taking a history class at Davis College, and a science class. Our plan is for Alexis to take college courses next year! I am not sure why she is growing up soo quickly!

I feel especially blessed to be able to school my own children. I love the freedom the kids have to focus on their subject of interest.

Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it".

I was a little crafty today!

2009-08-31T16:45:00.006-04:00

When we were in Wellsboro, Pa for our anniversary we went to a couple country stores. I could have easily spent $500.00 in there! Being the frugal person I am, I knew I could make some really cool crafty things for a lot cheaper!

I bought the old antique mason jar lid in Wellsboro for $2.50. I already have mason jars, so I went to JoAnn Fabrics and bought some potpourri. The potpourri came with the straw I tied around the lid, but you can also buy the straw.

For the bathroom sign I bought a plain wood piece at JoAnne's, country ribbon, black acrylic paint, bead wire, and a white paint pen. I sprayed some craft sealer on it that I already had. Make sure you double coat the acrylic paint. That was it!

Now I am in the mood to make some pretty fall crafts!

Easy Spaghetti Sauce

2009-08-25T14:57:00.005-04:00

If you have never thought about making your own spaghetti sauce, it is not as hard as it may seem.
1 29 oz can of puree
1 29 oz can of diced or crushed tomatoes
Italian Seasonings
3 Tbsps organic sugar (if you don't have organic, regular sugar will do)

You can first saute' garlic and onion in extra virgin olive oil if you like, but you don't even have to do that if you are short of time.

Boil some whole wheat spaghetti noodles, and make sure you buy a loaf of Italian bread and you have a very nutritious, yummy dinner!

Names

2009-08-20T14:20:00.000-04:00

HowManyOfMe.com

There are

people with my name in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?