Here we go...

I just thought that I would post a few pictures of our "Black and Gold" family as we all get pumped up for the game Sunday afternoon: From two weeks ago at the last regular season game - Dad, Mike, Jason, Kerby (Dad, you really look like a true Steelers fan in your garb with your gotee): Last Christmas: And, the youngest of the family with Dad: Sorry, I couldn't come up with others of the Valentines to post...Julie, you'll have to take a picture for us... GO STEELERS!!!!

A Snowy Saturday

It started snowing yesterday afternoon with a few breaks in between the snow showers. This is what is looked like outside our window about 10:00 Saturday morning. Mike joined our neighbor friends (Nate & Sharon, Victor & Victoria) (Victoria decided to go in because she was too cold) to play outside in the snow. I enjoy the snow more from inside, so I just watched from the window and took the pictures. Then they all thought it would be fun to through snowballs at me through the window...

Meal Planner Monday: Soups - Weight Watchers "0 points" Vegetable Soup

I saw this recipe the other day on the Weight Watchers website. Hopefully the link here still works. I have not tried the recipe but it sounds yummy.

Attention Coupon Clippers

Today's newspaper had several good coupons. It may be worth getting an extra copy of this week's paper. These were in the Times Gazette today ($.50/copy)... -McDonald's - Free small McCafe capaccino/mocha or medium iced coffee (in addition to other McDonald's coupons) -Logan's Roadhouse $3 off/$10 and $5 off/$20 purchase -Green Giant Vegetables: $.50 Valley Fresh Steamers (several others) -Colgate Total $1.50 **They are an ECB deal at CVS this week - you could get 2 tubes free if you have 2 coupons -Colgate MaxFresh $1 -Fiber One Bars $.50 -Progresso $.50 off 2 **They are on sale for $1 this week at Hawkins which doubles coupons so that will make them $.50 each -Cascadian Farm Organic product $1 -Rubbermaid storage containers and totes $1 (we'll be needing some when we move) -Red Lobster $3 off two lunch entrees, $4 off two dinner entrees -Snyder Multigrain chips $1 -**Bayer Special 1/2 Price Offer Rebate Form Aleve, Bayer, Flinstones, Alka-Seltzer Plus, One-a-Day, Citracel, Phillips, etc Also, there are additional coupons...AND CVS has a deal this week to get $5 ECB back when you buy $15 products which include the Bayer, Alka-Seltzer and Aleve(sale prices apply), so if I've figured this out right I can buy 1 each of Bayer, Alka-Seltzer and Aleve - use 3 $1 coupons = $18 then get $7.50 back in rebate - $5 ECB = Total Price $5.50 for all of those 3 things As well as coupons for the following: Pillsbury Grands, Sweet Rolls, Dinner Rolls, Toaster Strudel Nature Valley Granola Bars Fruit Rollups Yoplait Os-Cal Atkins bars Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers, Cafe Steamers Healthy Ones Deli Meat Joint Care Drinkables (I'll save them for you Mom) Chef Boyardee Nature Made vitamins Oust Fuzze PizzaAmore Act Flouride Rinse Airborne Kleenex Coffemate Taster's Choice Carnation Instant Breakfast Boost Juicy Juice Campbells - soups (several coupons) V8 Minute Rice Lysol - various products So I thought it was worth spending $.50 for a couple more copies...Anyone want me to do some shopping for them?

On the 9th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Nine drummers drumming...Eight maids a-milking...Seven swans a-swimming...Six geese a-laying...Five golden rings...Four colly birds...Three French hens...Two turtle doves...

...and a partridge in a pear tree...

Did you know that tonight is the 9th Night of Christmas? Did you ever wonder what this song is all about? This is what Wikipedia had to say... The Twelve Days of Christmas, and the associated evenings of those twelve days (Twelve-tide), are the festive days beginning the evening of Christmas Day (December 25) through the morning of Epiphany (January 6). The associated evenings of the twelve days begin on the evening before the specified day. Thus, the first night of Christmas is December 25–26 and Twelfth Night is January 5–6. Twelfth Day is January 6. This period is also known as Christmastide. With the onset of more Americanized and secular traditions throughout the past two centuries (such as the American "Santa Claus", popularity of Christmas Eve itself as a holiday, and rise in popularity of New Year's Eve parties as well), the traditions of the Twelve Days of Christmas have been largely forgotten in the U.S.. This is also heightened by the commercial practice to have "After-Christmas Sales" begin on December 26 and run usually until New Year's Eve. Indeed, contemporary marketing and media tend to espouse the (erroneous) belief that the Twelve Days end on Christmas and thus begin December 14.[3][4] However, a small percentage of Christians of many sects have held on to their own favorite ways to celebrate and those who choose to also have their own church to guide them in a spiritual way of marking this reverent holiday. Americans who celebrate various ways include secular Christians of all backgrounds, religious Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Moravians and those of the Amish and Mennonite communities. Today, some celebrants give gifts each of the Twelve Days, feast and otherwise celebrate the entire time through to Epiphany morning. Lighting a candle for each day has become a modern tradition in the U.S. and of course, singing the appropriate verses of the famous song each day is also an important and fun part of the American celebrations. Some still celebrate Twelfth Night as the biggest night for parties and gift-giving and some also light a Yule Log on the first night (Christmas) and let it burn some each of the twelve nights. Some Americans also have their own traditional foods to serve each night. As in olden days, Twelfth Night to Epiphany morning is then the traditional time to take down the Christmas tree and decorations. The rhyme or chant "The Twelve Days of Christmas" first appeared in a children's book titled, Mirth Without Mischief, c. 1780. There are possibly three earlier French versions and one Scottish. The song was first known to be performed by James O. Halliwell in 1842. The days in England are traditionally[5] as follows: A partridge in a pear tree Two turtle doves Three French hens Four colly birds Five gold rings Six geese a-laying Seven swans a-swimming Eight maids a-milking Nine drummer drumming Ten pipers piping Eleven ladies dancing Twelve lords a-leaping The song calls for "four colly birds," but these are often mistakenly called calling birds. This is due primarily to a misunderstood pronunciation, probably in the 20th century—and partly because of the evolution of the English language since the 16th century and the differences between Australasian, British, and North American pronunciation.[6] Colly in Early English meaning black, would make day four a reference to "four blackbirds." The "five gold rings" refer to ring-necked pheasants. There have been various interpretations of the religious symbolism for each of the Twelve Days, with some claiming the song to be a code used by persecuted Catholics. This is known to be false.[7]

So don't take down that Christmas tree yet...we have some more celebrating to do!

Frugal Friday: Christmas Clearance Gift Wrapping Supplies

Not that I need any more wrapping paper or ribbon, but I love looking through the Christmas wrapping section this time of year when it is marked down 50% or more. In addition to the Christmas wrapping paper for future Christmas gifts, often I have found wrapping paper and ribbons/bows that can be used anytime of the year (like those shown above), and they are discounted as well because they are labeled "Christmas." It is also when I search the Christmas ornaments on clearance for future package decorations. I'll admit that storing the rolls of wrapping paper can be a problem. I have mine standing upright in a box in the closet. I also came across this clever way to store the wrapping rolls.

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At Walmart this week, the ribbon by the yard (and material) in the craft section was all marked down 75% off clearance. It appears that Walmart (at least ours) is getting rid of all of the items in the sewing section that need to be measured and cut. Unfortunately, it was very picked over but I did find several things, including some colored rhinestone type things to use as "embellishments" on my cards for a total of just $2.10 for my bag of goodies.

Other grocery "freebie" deals from MoneySavingMom...

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream

Select Harvest Soup

Back to Blogging

I know it's been 2 1/2 weeks since I posted something. I should be back to regular blogging now starting with a "Frugal Friday" post for tomorrow (and hopefully soon a video of our Christmas). Happy New Year!