Wednesday, November 30, 2011

The Forgotten Mourners

Siblings Walking Together

(Formerly the Sibling Credo)


We are the surviving siblings of The Compassionate Friends.
We are brought together by the deaths of our brothers and sisters.
Open your hearts to us, but have patience with us.
Sometimes we will need the support of our friends.
At other times we need our families to be there.
Sometimes we must walk alone, taking our memories with us,
continuing to become the individuals we want to be.
We cannot be our dead brother or sister;
however, a special part of them lives on with us.
When our brothers and sisters died, our lives changed.
We are living a life very different from what we envisioned,
and we feel the responsibility to be strong even when we feel weak.
Yet we can go on because we understand better than many others
the value of family and the precious gift of life.
Our goal is not to be the forgotten mourners that we sometimes are,
but to walk together to face our tomorrows as surviving siblings of
The Compassionate Friends.


©The Compassionate Friends

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

I have a glue gun, and I'm not afraid to use it!!!

Ok, first let me say that I LOVE picture frames, but at the same time, I do not like to spend a lot of money on them!  I usually try to hit up Hobby Lobby when they are having their 50% off frames sale and snag me up some.  Well, this year the budget is tighter than usual, so even at half off, I really can't afford the frames. 

This year for Christmas the grandparents are getting Tru's school pictures as part of their gift.  I was wanting to pick up a couple of cute frames to put some of the pics in. Well, while I was browsing the store I was inspired to try and decorate my own frames.  I have a back stock of frames at home (like I said, I love frames) and an endless supply of craft items, so I took a stab at adding some pizazz to the frames that I have to make them a little more like the cute ones I saw at Hobby Lobby.

This is a simple brown frame that I had from Hobby Lobby.  I added the stone pieces that came from a bracelet of mine that had broken, but I still really liked the stones.  This one isn't quite done yet, I am still looking for that little something extra to add to it, I just haven't found what that something extra is yet.

This frame I am actually quite proud of.  In person it has lots of sparkle and antique beauty to it.  The frame was one that I found at Wal Mart a long time ago for like $5.00 but never used.  My grandmother knows that I like to craft, so every time she goes to a second hand store, she picks me up a lot of old jewelry, and sometimes even sends me broken pieces from her jewelry box.  So, I took most of these pieces she has given me and arranged them onto the frame.  I just liked all of the colors and randomness it created.

I didn't do too much to this one.  I picked up this really neat black frame at Hobby Lobby for 50% a while back and then just added a rhinestone cross that I loved that had fallen off of a purse I used to own.  Unlike the frame above, I like this one for it's simplicity!  You can't tell in the picture, but This frame is unique, the black border isn't wood, it is actually one solid piece of glass, just two tones.  It's a real neat look in person. 

This frame is more frilly and girly.  It's another frame that I grabbed from Hobby Lobby for real cheap hoping to add something to it.  The black and clear rhinestones came from a bracelet that broke a while back.  I just made a bow, and it was done.

Monday, November 28, 2011

A few bargains at the grocery store!!

Sunday I did some grocery shopping while Truett was at his dad's house.  It is so much easier to do my price comparing and detailed shopping without a little one growing restless in the shopping cart.  I managed to save $20.00.  It's not my best outing, but it's still pretty good.  I did have to purchase a coat for Tru, which threw the purchase price quite a bit higher than I had anticipated, but the weather is quickly turning cold, so the jacket was a must!!
These are a few of the good deals I was able to pick up.  The Bounty paper towels were free after I used my $1.00 off any Bounty product coupon.  The Tide travel packs and the Aquafresh toothpaste were also free after the high value coupons I had.  I was super happy about the Gillette shave prep face wash deal I found.  Wal Mart just recently cut the price to $3.97 from over $6.  I also had a coupon for $2.00 off, so I got the shave prep face wash for $1.97!  Not bad for a pricey toiletry!  The Marshmallow Pebbles were also real cheap.  They are $2.28 at Wal Mart and from my All You Magazine I got a $1.50 off coupon.  So that brought my cereal for Tru to just $0.78!!!  The Tabasco sauce sells for $1.24 and I had a $0.75 coupon so bring the total of the Tabasco to $0.49!! Using coupons I was also able to get the Libby's fruit for $0.62 a can.  I was able to use a lot of other great coupons for the rest of my purchases, these were just a few that I was extra proud of.  I know it can take a lot of time, but trust me, it is well worth it in the long  run!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

A time to give thanks!

This year I have been in a little bit of a "woe is me" kind of mood.  It has been my toughest year as an adult for sure!!  With all the things that have been crumbling around me, I have been finding it hard at times to realize the things I still have to be thankful for.  Sometimes instead of dwelling on what we don't have, we have to teach ourselves to rejoice in those things that we do have...

Here is what I am thankful for:

This sweet little creature in my life is what keeps me going!  Sometimes he is the only reason I am able to get out of bed and live life.  I love this kid!!

I am so very thankful to my parents!  All three of them!!  HEHE!  I am a very lucky girl to have such loving and wonderful people to call my parents!!
My niece Clara and my nephew Cohen.  The sweetest little boogers ever!!!
My siblings who are truly my other half.  Sometimes I'm not sure what I would do without them!  Although he is not pictured, my brother-in-law is included in this.  He is more of a brother than an "in-law" anyway!!
My grandparents!! I really do have the best grandparents!!  Two of my grandparents, Nanny and Granddaddy, I have always been especially close to.  This year was extra trying when we lost our beloved Nanny!!  I'm not sure there has ever been a woman who has loved her family more!!  My Granddaddy has always been the kindest man with the biggest heart!  I have always said he was the male equivalent to Mother Theresa.
While it's hard to find anything thankful in losing my precious little brother, I am so very thankful that I had the 21 years with him I did!  He was the apple of my eye and the sweetest and most caring young man ever!!  I love him so much and always will.  I am so thankful to have the wonderful memories of him that I have!!!

And the thing that I am thankful for, just to be thankful for.......
Troy Aikman!!!  HAHA!!  The first man I ever fell head over heels for!!  HAHA!!  I am thankful that he played for the Cowboys in those cute, tight football pants, and I am also thankful that he still graces my TV almost every Sunday broadcasting football for the FOX Network!  SWOON!!!!!!




It's begining to look a lot like Christmas...

I have begun the process of getting all of my Christmas decorations up.  I aspire to have one of those homes that is just beautifully decorated and breath taking, but to be honest I don't have the pocket book or the time for it these days....so I am forced to make due with what I have.  This year I have also been lacking in the inspiration to decorate the way I used to....

This is the top of my armoire.  I hate how my camera photographs!!  In person you can see all the sequence and sparkles that are in the arrangements.  I was kind of proud how this turned out!

Again, my camera doesn't quite pick up all the glitz I actually have on my tree.  I have a lot of fun floral and sequence pieces that I was able to find at Hobby Lobby this year for 50% off.



These are just some close up shots of a few of the things that I have on my tree.

This is my table setting so far.  I am looking to change up my centerpiece and add a few things like napkins, but that will all happen in time...I do still have a while before Christmas after all!  HAHA!!


I decorated Tru's room a bit too.  I can't get him to keep it clean long enough to actually get pictures of it!  I hope to get a tree in his room with in the next few weeks as well!



Nice surprise for a rainy Monday...

Today I kind of hit the lottery when it comes to the freebies in the mail!  I got in a sample of Garnier color shield shampoo and conditioner, a $1 off Secret Clinical Strength deodorant coupon, a sample of Herbal Essence shampoo, Crest 3D White strip and Crest 3D White toothpaste, a Carnation Instant Breakfast sample, and a book of coupons from P&G!!

Monday I also received my newest product trial from Synovate!  I can't give much information now, but I will update soon what it is and what I thought of it!  I am kinda excited about this one!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

This weeks deals

This week I was able to find a few good deals and I also got a few cool things in the mail.

First, there were several great deals at the stores this week.  I was able to find a $1.00 off any BIC stationary product coupon on the computer.  These pens run for $0.97 at Wal Mart.  So, I was able to get these for free!  In the mail the other week, I received my free Suave Professionals coupon, so I used that this week on this hairspray.  Also for free this week at Wal Mart I was able to get these Schick razors and the Mr. Clean Magic Erasers by using buy one, get one free coupons.  You can't ever have enough razors or magic erasers!!!  HAHA!!

In the mail, I got my free Taster's Choice coffee samples and coupon.  It came with 6 varieties of coffee and a $1.00 off coupon.  I don't drink coffee, but I think I will be using these in holiday gift baskets this year.  I got my free NeilMed Neti Pot.  I have never used one of these before, but I see them everywhere, so I thought, since it's free, why not try it!  Also, this week I received two free samples of Playtex Sport super feminine products.  These samples also came with $1.00 off coupons.

The second half of the week found me receiving more cool things in the mail and two more great finds at the store.  I had two $2.00 off coupons for any Crest Complete toothpaste or Oral B Complete toothbrush.  Well, I used one for Crest Complete toothpaste (not shown) and one for an Oral B Complete toothbrush.  Each of these items, after coupon, only cost $0.98.  The toothbrush even came with a toothpaste sample as an extra little bonus!!  HAHA!!

In the mail I received my $2.00 off any Tide liquid laundry soap coupon that I got from one of their giveaways on Facebook, 2 pages of Glade coupons and a $2.00 off Boost coupon from Shopper's Voice, my issue of Working Mother Magazine (the whole subscription was free), my sample of Head and Shoulders shampoo and conditioner, and a sample of anti-wrinkle moisturizer that I got from one of Wal Mart's sample giveaways.

All in all it was a pretty good week for some deals!!  Using my coupons, I was able to get two weeks of groceries and toiletries for $50.00...but what is better, I saved $40.00 off the total!!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

And when that day arrives...

And when that day arrives
by Unknown Author

And when that day arrives
That we no longer are apart,
I’ll smile and hold you close to me …
  Forever in my heart.


Losing my brother has brought upon the greatest challenge of my life so far.  I have lost many loved ones over the years, but the pain and emptiness I feel in my brother's absence is like no other!  I was trying to think of something special to do somewhere in my house where I could go and be with my brother when I am really missing him or feeling down.

I decided to put up a little memorial in my room for my brother.  I found the plaque at Hobby Lobby the week after he passed.  As soon as I saw it, I knew that I had to get it for this!  The frames, candle holder, and candle also came from Hobby Lobby.

This is my favorite picture of my brother and I.  It was taken several years ago when we were camping with our Grandparents!  The dried white roses came from my brother's casket arrangement.  I took one on the day of the funeral and one when I went back to visit the grave sight. They dried so pretty!!  I will keep these forever!!


The photo in the frame is actually the program from my brother's funeral.  It has one of my favorite pictures of him on it along with the twenty third psalm.  I matted the program with scrapbook paper to make it look a little nicer.  The two stones are from the funeral.  I actually have three of them, but I keep one on me at all times.  The funeral home had these set out for visitors to take with a really neat poem about how the stone in circular and never ending just like his spirit, and every time that you squeeze it, he is squeezing us back.


I hope creating this will help create the peace I have been longing for and help with the healing process.  I know one day we will be together again, but until then, I have this to keep him close to me and keep his spirit alive!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

I love this face!!!

My little man had pictures taken at school this week, and today I got to preview the photos!  They are so precious!!  This is exactly the cheering up I have been needing!  Photo Cafe came to the school and took the photos.  They were more than I could afford, but thankfully they do a payment plan!!!  Also, I can't complain too much about the price, I am getting TONS of photos, and the grandparents' Christmas gifts are now taken care of!!

This is my absolute favorite!!

I sooo love this one too!!!



I think he looks like a little Gap Kids model in this one!!

Monday, November 14, 2011

A little craft inspiration

I love the free creative inspiration sheets that you get for free at Hobby Lobby!!  I always walk around the store grabbing them up to get some great ideas.  Now, I always have good intentions of implementing these in my home or crafting up something fabulous as a gift, but let's get real, who has the time?  HAHA!!  They usually end up in my craft armour where they are forgotten until I go to clean it out and make room for new "junk".  But, during my last trip to Hobby Lobby, I came across one inspiration sheet that I am definitely gong to use!!



There are some AMAZING ideas on how to use their small crosses and crowns.  I LOVE the ideas of decorating the books!  I have shelves in my living room that this will look wonderful on!!  If you look close, some of the books have been covered with scrapbook paper to add a little something extra.  I love it!!!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Christmas Has Taken Over!!

In my family it is tradition to decorate your house for Christmas on Thanksgiving weekend.  Well, this year I am getting a little bit of a head start.  I will be real busy Thanksgiving weekend and I needed something to keep me busy today, so I thought it would be nice to start pulling Christmas stuff out.

My guest room has been taken over!!  I am one of those crazy people that has Christmas "themes" every year.  I have several different sets of decor.  This year I felt like pulling out my more "grown up" decor and went with my red and gold theme.

This is my Snowbabies set.  My grandmother started this collection for me several years ago.  I think this year I will actually put it out.  Usually I don't have much room for it, but I got rid of some decor this year, so I think I will have room for it.  I usually only put this out when I do my "snow theme" at Christmas, but I think it will be far enough from a lot of the decor that it will go just fine.


I LOVE ornaments!!  I have been very fortunate to be given some really awesome ornaments over the years from some of my students!  These ornaments are just a few of what I have been given.  These will go great on my tree this year, or somewhere else in my house!!


Saturday, November 12, 2011

Samples and Good Deals...

So, I ended the week with another good deal and a couple more freebies.  The Purex I was able to find for $1.99 this week at Walgreens!  I bought two because, 1: you can never have too much laundry detergent, and 2: I had $2 in Register Rewards left, so I got one of the detergents for free!!!  In the mail I got a sample of Finish dish rinse along with a coupon for $0.75 off.  I hear that this is a great product, so I can't wait to try it.  Also, I got samples of the new Emergen-C Kidz in. It came with three flavors, orange, grape, and fruit punch.  I can't wait until Tru tries these...I may have to try one for myself.

A Special Find!

While on one of my trips to Hobby Lobby, I found a very special plaque that I just had to have!  The even better part, I found it for $2.50!!

After all that has happened in the last week or so, I found this to be so fitting!  I knew I just had to have it! I am going to make a special place on my hope chest for a little memorial to my little brother, and this is going to be a part of it. 

Sunday Coupon Preview for 11-13-11

For those of you who are interested, here is a preview of the coupons you can expect in the paper this Sunday.

RedPlum

http://www.sundaycouponpreview.com/11-13-redplum-coupon-preview

Smartsource

http://www.sundaycouponpreview.com/11-13-smartsource

General Mills


http://www.sundaycouponpreview.com/11-13-general-mills-coupon-insert

It sounds like there should be some great deals available!!!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

A cute (and cheap!!) find!!!!

I decided to get out and do a little retail therapy at Hobby Lobby while they are having their 50% off sale on their Christmas floral.  Well, like I have said before, many of my great finds and deals just fall into my lap.  At the front by the door, there was a shelf that had leftover Halloween items for 90% off!!  To my surprise I found these 3 super cute pumpkins.  They were originally $19.99 each and I got all three for a total of $6.54!!!

This is a closer up view of the pumpkins.  They are orange satin with a black web sheer over it.  Then there are cute little rhinestones all over it.  The stems are black satin with feathers coming out.  The photos don't capture the beauty of these at all!!  I just can't believe I came across these!!  Granted, it took $6.54 out of my budget towards what I could spend on my Christmas floral, but it was well worth it!!!

Getting things back to "normal"

I guess I have to learn to get back into my old routine so that I can get back to "normal" for me and Truett.  It almost feels shallow doing this kind of thing with how I am feeling, but I know that my brother would not want me to sit around miserable all day everyday.  Today I tried to do a few things from my old routine, like look for new coupons and look through my new freebies from my mail.

While I was gone in Mena, I got a few things in my mail.  I received a Poise sample from Sam's Club, a coupon for a free Suave Professionals product, Disney Gummies sample and coupon, a sample of the new Armani Code Sport cologne, Redkin hair serum sample, A Crest Complete toothpaste sample from Vocalpoint, and an O.b. kit with samples.

I really like a lot of these samples.  The Armani cologne is for Tru...I know, it sounds silly, but he loves when he gets to wear his dad's cologne when he is at his house, so I thought he would like having his very own!  I LOVE the Crest Complete toothpaste and I love getting these kind of samples.  It makes it so nice to have these on hand for when I travel!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Alexander Cole Masters 1990-2011

This Monday we buried my beloved baby brother, Alex.  I am eight years older than Alex, so I have always had that maternal feeling towards him.  I still remember the day that my parents told us we were going to have a new baby!  Forever I will have a piece of my heart missing!  My life will never be complete again, but I must learn to rejoice in the 21 years we shared together!!

We had this song sung at my brother's funeral.  I so cherish this song!!  The lyrics "living He loved me, death He saved me, buried He carried my sins away," are so powerful and moving! 

We also had this song played at my brother's funeral.  I can close my eyes and see my brother's beautiful smile shinning down because he no longer has pain and no longer suffers!  He is now safe in the arms of GOD!! 

It's hard to believe that a piece of this puzzle will forever be missing!!!  I miss my brother so much already!  I can't wait for the day when I can see him again!  Until then, I praise GOD to still have the love of my parents, my other brother Neal, my sister Hillary, and my brother-in-law Greg to get me through!!









Wednesday, November 2, 2011

For your Mary Kay needs...

One of the parents from my classroom, Shara Manning, is a Mary Kay consultant.  She is very friendly and really enjoys getting to do this!  If you are interested in Mary Kay, her website is www.marykay.com/smanning.  Since the Christmas season in approaching us, she has some really neat gift ideas and gift sets available.  Soon we are looking to having a little get together at my house if anyone is interested.  I will be posting all the details soon!!

I LOVE me a good deal!!

Funny thing...most of my deals kind of fall in my lap!!  I ran to Neighborhood Wal Mart next to my house to do some price matching for my shopping trips this week, when I noticed all of the Halloween items on clearance in the middle of the main aisle.  Laying on the top of one of the baskets was a Ninja Turtle costume marked down to $9.50 from $19.00!!!  It was the last one and it's the perfect size for Tru to play with.  Now, being that I got it for a steal I should have gone straight home and surprised him with it, but instead, I decided to do the smart thing and I put it back for Christmas.  Truett loves dressing up and he loves the Ninja Turtles, so I know he is going to love this!!  So far, I have bought a board game, this costume, a Captain America disc launching shield, and a Transformer for Truett's Christmas, and I have only spent a grand total of $20.00!!!!  Woo Hoo!!!

Well, I have been able to get a few deals so far this week and have gotten a couple of things in the mail also.  Yesterday I went to Walgreens and picked up this Tide for $3.99!  This Tide is the Free and Gentle formula and is the 32 loads size.  It is on sale for $5.99 from $8.99 and I also used one of my $2.00 coupons from this Sunday's newspaper.  Comparatively, Wal Mart sells their Tide detergent for $5.97, regular price, but it is only for the 25 loads, so I opted to pay the extra $0.02 for 7 more loads...haha!! Also at Walgreens I was able to pick up two Colgate toothpastes for $2.50!  They were on sale for 2/$3.50 and I used two $0.50 coupons that I had.  Then, for buying the two Colgate toothpastes, I received $2.00 in Register Rewards to use towards my next purchase at Walgreens!!!!  My last deal from Walgreens yesterday was the Dawn dish soap.  It is currently on sale for $0.99 and I had coupons for $0.50 off.  I was able to get each one for $0.49.  I don't really use this as much, just on my pots and pans, but my Oma doesn't have a dishwasher, so she just might find one of these in her stocking this year!!  haha!!  The Olay body soap I got at Target for $0.47 each.  They are at Target for $0.97 in the travel section and I had coupons for $0.50 off any Olay product.  This is a good deal because usually three body bars cost somewhere in the $3.00 range and up, and I was able to get these for $1.41.  Again, I don't necessarily use this, but I plan to use it in stockings this Christmas and for backup purposes ( I am one of those that refuses to drive in the snow, so in the winter when we get so much of it, I tend to go without going to the store for a while, so I try to have things on hand to keep from running out during this time). 

The Auquafresh I received in the mail through Wal Mart.  On their website, type in samples and it will take you to their sample page.  They don't always have things available, but they do give away some really neat things from time to time.  I also got another Post It sample product from their Post It Perks program.  I love these larger Post Its!!  They are great for me to use in my classroom or even with my coupons!  Lastly, the Braums down from my house just completed a full renovation and sent out some really good coupons.  Those are always good to have on hand.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Happy Halloween!!

Well, we survived Halloween!!  haha!!  This year mom was able to join us for Halloween, which is a first, and we were invited  to go trick or treating with some of Truett's friends.  The wonderful Brumback family were so nice to invite us over to their beautiful house for a Halloween party and to go trick or treating after.  We had such a wonderful time!!  Tru was so heart broken when it was time for us to leave!!  I tell you, I did not know it was possible for one child to get as much candy as Tru did last night!! 

Truett and I about to leave to go trick or treating.  Truett was captain America and I was a pirate.  Even with a mask covering his face, I think my little guy is such a cutie!!

Here are the boys getting ready to go out.  Truett was Captain America, Aidan was Thor, and Cole was a vampire.  They were so cute and so much fun to go with!  In the background you can see some of Ginny's amazing Halloween decorations!!  She has quite the talent for decorating!!

In front of a house ready to get some goodies!!



All in a hard night's work!!  I better stock up on toothpaste!!  It's going to take a lot of brushing our teeth to keep the dentist away if all of this is consumed!!  haha!!  The thought has actually crossed my mind to keep some of the non Halloween themed candy set back for stockings this Christmas!!  haha!!