Coupons They're Not Just for Groceries Anymore / Christmas Shopping

Coupons are everywhere these days.  I find them in the newspapers --daily and Sunday--in the mailbox, in products I purchase.  We are all familiar with grocery coupons which I also use regularly combined with sale items to get the best value, but did you know that you can do the same with other consumer products?

I try to keep a lookout for coupons for places that I prefer to shop at but also look for those that offer freebies or  substantial discounts.  Believe it or not, Christmas will be here before we know it and in between, for us at least, are three family birthdays.  

My Labor Day blog post had some good Stein Mart coupons that had been in the paper on Saturday as well as  online.  Well, here's what I bought for less than $40.00:

• A twin bed eyelet sheet set (Ebay, for us, or gift)
• 2 soap / lotion display sets (2 gifts)
• one beautiful scarf (for me)
• 2 sleeveless tops (for me for the holidays)

At full price, the sheets would have cost about that.  I posted them on Ebay although if no one buys them I'll use them for our guest room.

I try my best to shop at places where coupons are offered. Each year we  purchase an Entertainment Club book.  Priced at about $30  or less, using just 2-3 of the coupons more than recoups the money spent for one and the coupons are good at a variety of places in our surrounding area. I've posted several blogs on this subject, so check them out.

Today I'll be getting a haircut at SuperCuts which is about 5 minutes from my house.  I found out last year that their policy is to accept competitor coupons so I'll be using the coupon below.  There were several coupons for $6.99 haircuts at Great Clips in the Sunday  newspaper a few weeks ago. Since my neighbor gives me her coupons, I have eight (8) of these.  They expire on September 17.   If anyone from OGC (or if you live near me)  would like me to bring you one on Sunday, just let me know.

 Here's what my $6.99 haircut looks like. 

(Keep in mind that  it's about 90 degrees outside!)

These days due to inflation and taxes:  A penny saved is MORE THAN a penny earned.

The Death of Loved Ones to Cancer

CANCER...


--The husband of a dear friend from college who lives in North Carolina is undergoing treatments and transplants for multiple myeloma cancer at Duke as I write this.  We are praying for healing and alleviation from the extreme pain he has been experiencing the last several months.

--Two weeks ago our church celebrated the five-year anniversary mark of our pastor being cancer free (tongue cancer).    It was diagnosed by a dentist during an examination.  We are thankful for his good health these days.

--Last week another member from our church was diagnosed with lymphoma (cancer). It is aggressive, but treatable.  We are praying for a full recovery.

--On Sunday a 5-year-old daughter / granddaughter related to two beloved pastors in our area passed away with brain cancer.  It was diagnosed after  a family vacation  only 10 weeks ago. They had originally given her 18 months to live.  Our entire community was praying for her and the family.  Her memorial service is today at 11:00 a.m.

--Last night a friend in Texas emailed me to say that her 79-year-old mother  passed away from a long battle with  cancer.

So much heartache and death to this terrible disease yet the Lord chooses to give some  more years of life and to spare others completely during their lifetimes.  There are all kinds of potential causes for cancer, many have probably not even been discovered in this technological, electrical, stress-oriented, food-engineered world in which we live today.  


Pray for those who suffer and be there for them as they go through the waiting, the tests, treatments, chemo / radiation, etc.  For believers, there is hope in the Lord even in this suffering.  For those who are not, come to Him today and let Him walk with you through this difficult season of life.

Romans 12:15 

Rejoice with those who rejoice, 

and weep with those who weep. 

Matthew 11:28 

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 

and I will give you rest."

Psalm 90:12 

So teach us to number our days, 

That we may present to You a heart of wisdom. 

Surprise Gifts / Random or Planned Kindness

Last Wednesday I was having a not-so-good day. I came home from a harrowing afternoon and found a package in the mail for me.  What  a wonderful surprise--the 12-year-old daughter of long time family friends who live in Arkansas had made me this lovely purse and mailed it to me!  I had to shed  a tear when I opened the box. It was almost as if the Lord were saying "I have seen what you have gone through today and wanted to make sure you know that you are loved."

Her mom had called me a couple of months ago and mentioned that her daughter wanted to sew a purse for me and what colors would I like but I had really forgotten about it.  (This is the third one she had made--the other two were for her grandmothers.) So, I guess this was a "planned" surprise since it took her awhile to stitch it, then package and ship it to me.   Nevertheless, the thought of a younger one making me a handmade gift was just TOO sweet.  And it wasn't even my birthday or Christmas! Thank  you, Miriam. You can't imagine how receiving this cheered me up.  :)  I carried it to church with me on Sunday and since black is one of my basic colors I will be using it often. :)

What we make ourselves--artwork, sewing, cooking, woodwork, crafts, cards--becomes a gift like no other.  There are SO any things we can do with our hands.  They are truly gifts of self that mean more than you might think.  Brighten someone's day today with something as simple as a handwritten note of love or encouragement.  

Use your gifts and talents to bless someone this week by giving them a bit of yourself.

1Thessalonians 4:9-11 

Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren ... But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more,  and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you...

A New Day / Back to Work

Mary Engelbreit,  as  I have mentioned before, is one of my favorite artists.  Her colorful artwork always makes me smile--cards, calendars, post-it notes, stationery, home decor items.  I have several of her pieces  scattered and there about our home for a touch of whimsy--a good contrast for someone like me who is pretty much "in the box" a good part of the time..  A friend who knows how much I enjoy her even gave me a framed and numbered piece of her artwork with my favorite word on it.  What a lovely surprise!

One of my treasured items is a set of miniature painted teapots that I keep on my kitchen windowsill and look at every day. Even though they've  got some war wounds (someone dropped them) they are so special to me because they were the first present  that one of my sons picked out and bought for me with his own money when he was very young, about 7 or 8 years of age. :)

I have a yearly calendar with one piece of her art  per page which I occasionally post on this blog and I love receiving books, cards, letters and emails with her fun illustrations and wise (generally) sayings.  Here's one I thought you might like for today--the day after Labor Day and the "start" of a new work week...It's sometimes difficult for us to go back to the normal routine after a three- or four-day weekend, myself included.

As always though, scripture says it even better...

Psalm 118:24 

This is the day which the LORD has made; 

Let us rejoice and be glad in it. 

 Have a great day.

Labor Day 2010 / Stein Mart Coupons Expire September 6, 2010 TODAY

Hope you're enjoying the day off from whatever you normally do for work.  So far, I had a nice quiet morning walk (no one seemed to be up in our neighborhood), a run to  Sams Club for milk and watermelon, family time with everyone here, and a BBQ lunch.  I'm off to take some BBQ to my mother who couldn't come over today, then off to Stein Mart to use my 20-50% off coupons!    Here is a LINK for them if you've already thrown Sunday's paper out.  

Hope you're having a nice, restful day.

Sunday Worship

Here are two pieces of music that I will be playing on the piano  today during communion.  The first one is written by Yurima, a Christian Korean composer and is titled River Flows In You, reminding us that we have rivers of living water within us through Jesus springing up to eternal life.  (John 4: 7-14)

The second piece I am playing is familiar to many, The Lord's Prayer.  A good friend will be singing it today. THIS LINK has Denyce Graves singing this beautiful piece   with accompaniment by Dr. Douglas Major, during the National Service of Prayer and Remembrance following September 11, 2001. The song was composed by Albert Hay Malotte in 1935.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven;

Hallowed be Thy Name;

Thy kingdom come;

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven;

Give us this day our daily bread;

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;

And lead us not into temptation;

But deliver us from evil;

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.

Amen. 

Grocery Shopping Reading Food Price Labels

At first glance can you tell the difference between these two labels?  What is the price that you will pay for each of these items?  Which is actually the better buy? The blueberry juice? or the apple juice?

BLUEBERRY JUICE

APPLE JUICE

I shop the sales only at the Winn Dixie near us and have for awhile.  This means I only buy what's on sale at their lowest price (per The Grocery  Game) and stock up.  The rest of my groceries come from Sam's Club or Wal-Mart SuperCenter.   A friend has been steering me towards Publix lately armed with my coupons. :)

Winn Dixie recently changed their labeling tactics.  More than once I have picked up an item thinking is was incredibly inexpensive (it really was incredible) only to realize that the price I was looking at was actually the HOW MUCH YOU SAVE amount, not the cost at the register.  Thankfully I realized my  mistake before reaching the checkout line.

You can see what I mean in the top photo of blueberry juice. Is the price $1.49?  No, it's actually $2.50 each (2 for $5.00).  In the bottom photo of Apple Juice the price is $2.99 but with the BOGO (Buy One Get One Free) it's actually $1.50 each, a better buy than the Blueberry Juice.  I personally think this is a bit deceiving because shoppers are accustomed to the price being the BOTTOM number on all of the labeling.  


Publix does the same thing with their labels.

Read labels carefully at the store where you shop...  

Proverbs 31:27 

She looks well to the ways of her household... 

Morse Museum Gallery Winter Park Florida Tiffany Glass

Every few weekends or so my husband and I drive down to our Park Avenue for an early breakfast at Panera and a stroll.  Sometimes we visit the Farmers' Market which I have blogged about previously but can't seem to find here in the archives.  :(    Sometimes we go into the Morse Museum  like we did last weekend.  Whenever we go there is rarely anyone in there so I thought I would mention it if you have not discovered this beautiful gift shop and art museum.    It's is directly across from St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church at the corner of Canton and Park Avenue.

The gift shop though at first glance quite expensive actually has some great sales occasionally.  Last weekend they had a  long table full of lovely items priced at 60-75% off.  I  bought this Austrian crystal bookmark while we were there for about $6.00.

We often buy Christmas or birthday gifts for close friends, each other and extended family there.  Very  unusual items, beautiful neckties, artwork, stained glass...  Here is a look at the inside.  You're not really supposed to take photos inside for some reason  but I sneaked a few to show you.

The art museum is in the process of expanding and charges a moderate fee but also has free admission periodically.  Annual memberships are reasonably priced (students and teachers only $5 each) and include 6 passes as well as 10-20% discounts in the Museum Shop.  Admission is also free every Friday from 4:00-8:00 p.m.   Some of the large stained glass pieces you may have seen at the annual Christmas in the Park display and concert held in December.  Attending this is one of our yearly Christmas  traditions.

Spend an afternoon at the museum.  It's a wonderful field trip for your children and a special end to a date night as well.  :)

Life Can Change So Quickly / Hurricane Updates

UPDATE 8.28.12:  Hurricane Isaac has passed us by but woe to the people who live in New Orleans and parts of Alabama, particularly.

============================

9.2.10:  Life can change so quickly, particularly here in the south where there are hurricanes.  I was talking with some friends last night and wishing that we could go back to the days when hurricane warnings were not even thought twice about.  I have lived in Florida since 1970 and never even listened to the news when something was mentioned about hurricanes.   In 2004 that all changed when Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Ivan came directly into our area. 

Our electricity (do you have any idea how MANY things run on electricity?)  was out for 8 days with Charley, 3 days with Frances and 1 day with Ivan in 2004.  We got a taste of what it must be like to live in a Third World country so it was good for that reason.   It also gave me more empathy for people when hurricanes, tornadoes,  earthquakes or tsunamies strike. I won't go into much detail about that time other than to say that it was pretty miserable with quite a bit of property damage and expense for us.

Needless to say, I was a little nervous when I saw news about these hurricanes brewing in the Atlantic Ocean yesterday.

I am greatly relieved that the charts indicate they will most likely go around us probably leaving us fairly wet this weekend.  There is a 4th storm called #10 brewing near Africa which could cause some problems.

Always something to pray for but trusting that God has our good in mind for whatever happens...

Rom. 8:28  

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good 

to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 

1Pet. 5:6-7  

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, 

that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him,

 because He cares for you. 

Morning Smiles / Something to Make You LOL (Laugh Out Loud)

Sometimes you just need a good laugh.   I don't generally watch videos posted online, but this morning my former sister-in-law posted this on Facebook  and I really did laugh out loud when I saw it.   It's about 4 minutes long  and is titled Real Water Bed.  To view it, go to THIS LINK.