Great Deal for a Limited Time!

I came across a coupon code today on RedPlum for 80% off a $25 Restaurant.com coupon/gift certificate. Basically, you go to Restaurant.com and select a $25 gift certificate for a restaurant in you area. When you purchase it, enter the coupon code DINE and you will only pay $2! I got one for Grand Cru, a new restaurant here in town that I have not tried yet. I am pretty excited for a nice date night out while Grandma and Grandpa babysit sometime! If you want to get one, you have to hurry because the coupon code is only good through February 28th!

For more great tips, click here.

WFMW: T.G.I. Friday's Coupon

I have not had a WFMW post in a long time, but this tip really does work for me! T.G.I. Friday's is offering a coupon on their website for a buy one get one free entree good through March 1st! Print as many as you want and go as many times as you want until March 1st (excluding Valentine's Day). I love their fried green beans and look for any excuse to go to get them, so I will be printing my copy...or two. So, go here to print your coupon today!

For more WFMW, check out Rocks in My Dryer.

WFMW: Spending Quality Time with My Husband- Reading

It has been a while since I posted for WFMW. I just have not had any ideas of what to post about. But, today, I have an idea!

While we were dating, several people encouraged Andrew and I to find ways to spend time together doing things the other person enjoys. I thought I would start sharing some of the things that we enjoy doing together.

Andrew and I enjoy reading books together out loud. We started this during our premarital counseling when our counselor suggested we read a couple of books before getting married. As we lived away from both of our families, we had a lot of time in the car when we would go visit them. So, we started reading the books he suggested on those drives.

After getting married, we read the Lord of the Rings trilogy together. This took a while, but we really enjoyed it. Now, we are reading through the Harry Potter series together. Again.

Reading together works for us! Check out Shannon's for more WFMW ideas. Also, don't forget to check out and enter in my giveaway!

WFMW- Backwards Edition

This week it is a backwards edition of WFMW. That means that I get to ask a question and get advice from the many brilliant bloggers out there! I have a couple of questions.

My first question is this:

How do you get the related posts listed at the bottom of your post without having to put the links there yourself? If I can figure that out, would it bother you as a reader?

I have seen them on other blogs and have enjoyed them myself. However, I have not been able to figure out how to do it myself.

My second question is:

What kind of things do you buy that are homemade?

I am thinking of starting to make homemade cards and embroidered items, such as bibs, burp rags, aprons, towels, etc. Do you buy things like that and what do you expect to pay for them?

Thanks for helping me out! You can head over to Shannon's to see if you can help others out, also!

WFMW- Managing Your Subscriptions

I have not posted on WFMW for a while because I did not really have much to offer. But, this week, I came up for something that works for me. (You would think that my life is in total chaos since I can't think of anything that works for me, but it really is not all that bad!)

I am quite addicted to blogging! There really should be a BA (Bloggers Anonymous)! I mean, I subscribe to 74 feeds! 74! And that is after I have trimmed my subscriptions down. But, I have finally come up with a system to manage these subscriptions that works for me .

1. First, you have to get some kind of feed reader! I used to just go to the links on my blogroll. However, I would forget which ones I had been to and which ones I had not. And, I would go to blogs that did not have any new posts- a waste of time when I had so many blogs I wanted to look at. So, I finally signed up with Bloglines. It is easy to use and free. It installed a button on my toolbar that says, "Sub with Bloglines." I just click on that to subscribe to a blog when I come across it. Then, when one of my subscriptions submits a new post, I can see it in one easy place. So, step one...if you are still using your blogroll or memory to keep track of blogs, go get a feed reader. There are a ton of them out there!

2. Once I have subscribed to a blog, I select which folder I want it to go in. I have several folders: My Friends' blogs; Blogs I Like to Read; Blogs with Specifically Christian Content; Organizational Blogs, etc. I also have a folder for "Still Deciding." That is where most of my new blog subscriptions go. I put them here because I do not want to forget where they were, but I am not sure that I want to keep the subscription.

3. Subscriptions in the "Still Deciding" folder are marked private and can not be seen by anyone looking at my Bloglines page. I do this because I do not know a lot about them and I don't want to "endorse" them until I know more.

4. I also have a "Last Chance" folder where I put subscriptions that have not had much content that I have been really interested in for a couple of weeks while in the "Still Deciding" folder. These are also marked private.

5. So, when I go to read blogs, I go to bloglines and read all of my friends' blogs and "Blogs I Like to Read" daily. If time, I also read the "Still Deciding" ones. Weekly, I go through and "clean out" all of the new posts, including the "Still Deciding" and "Last Chance" ones. This gives me an overview of what those blogs are about. If I have found a blog that I really have enjoyed, I move it to one of the public folders. If I am still not sure, I keep it in the "Still Deciding" folder. If I have not seen much I am interested in, I move it to the "Last Chance" folder.

This system has helped me keep track of the blogs I find and has helped me sort through them. It seems a little tedious, but once I got in the hang of it, it has been really easy. Anyway, it works for me!

Head over to Shannon's for more tips.

Works for Me Wednesday: Goodreads

My friend, Taina, turned me on to Goodreads. I love to read books and am always looking for new titles or authors. A couple of weeks ago, Taina invited me to be her friend on Goodreads. I had not even heard of it, but when I checked it out, I immediately signed up.

Goodreads allows you to keep track of books and organize them by:

• Books you are currently reading
• Books you have read in the past
• Books you want to read in the future

You can also add any other category that you want, like...Books I want to read again. Or...Mystery Books. I have a category called Devotional Study Books- devotional books that I would like to go through at some point.

You can also rate the books you are reading and write reviews on them. This can help you remember what you thought about the book and convey that to other people, as well.

On top of all of that, you can invite people to be your friends. I can see what all of my friends on Goodreads are reading now, what they have liked in the past and recommend, what they have found that they want to read in the future. I can also see what they have had to say about the books.

Signing up is easy. Just go to Goodreads, click on "Get started," and you are on your way. Then, you just start adding books to your "bookshelves." You can add any book that can be found on Amazon.

Goodreads works for me. Head over to Shannon's for more tips.

**Note: I am not getting paid in any way for this post.**

WFMW- Homemade Donuts

I love donuts. Where I grew up, there were donut shops everywhere! Unfortunately, there are not that many where I live now. So, when we want a nice treat that is not too expensive, we make homemade donuts.

You may have already heard how to do this, but I thought I would share just in case. We take biscuits (just plain, nothing fancy), cut the centers out with a bottle lid (water bottle, 2-Liter bottle, Gatoraid bottle, etc.), and deep fry them in vegetable oil. To make icing, we mix vanilla (a little bit goes a long way), milk, and powdered sugar. Now, I am going to say something that I hate hearing. I never measure the ingredients on this one thing. Basically, start with a small amount of milk and vanilla and a large amount of powdered sugar. Then add either more milk or more sugar to get the consistency that you want. That is it!

We had homemade donuts for dessert last night. What is your favorite quick and easy treat? Head over to Rocks in my Dryer for more great tips.

Works for Me Wednesday: Paying off your House

I kept thinking today about what I could post on for my WFMW post this week. I had just about decided not to post when I came across the Financial Shape in 2008 Challenge over at Money Saving Mom. I think I am going to try doing the challenge this year. As I thought about this, I got to thinking about what we do that could help others. One of the biggest things I am proud of financially is how we pay on our house.

We bought our house 4 1/2 years ago. We accidentally got one payment ahead because I did not know that we did not have to make a payment the first month since we had just done all of the closing costs and such. Afraid of starting off late, I went ahead and made the payment. When I realized that we were ahead, I just kept it that way. I thought it would be a good buffer in case we ever had a big unexpected expense some day and needed some extra money. Then, we would have one month where we did not have to pay the house payment. This has happened a couple of times in the past. Each time, we saved up the money to get back a month ahead as soon as possible.

We also pay ~$50-$60 extra on our payment each month that goes directly to principal. If something happens and we can't do it one month, we don't worry about it. But we honestly don't miss it. We would spend that much on something frivolous instead, anyway.

By doing those two things, we have knocked off 27 payments on our 30 year mortgage! That's right! Over 2 years in only 4 1/2 years of paying!

That's what works for me. Head over to Shannon's for more tips.

Backwards WFMW

Today, we are doing a Backwards Edition of WFMW. Instead of posting a tip, we are supposed to post a question. I would love to know any tips for memorizing scriptures that you use or have heard of. Or, if there are any tips for Bible study that you have. I am really trying to dedicate myself to knowing God better through study and memorization of His word this year. It is going to be my theme for 2008. Any ideas? Thanks!

Head over to Shannon's to answer other questions!

Works for Me Wednesday: Music

I love to listen to music...all of the time. However, I don't always like listening to one CD at a time and I don't always like our local radio stations. I have found a couple of things that have worked well for me.

First, I started looking for radio stations that I can listen to online. I can plug my computer in to our stereo system and listen through the entire house, or I can plug in my headphones and listen while working on the computer on something. This has especially come in handy since our local Christian station is not that great. I have found several other Christian radio stations to listen to online.

Secondly, I have "Sumbled Upon" (literally- more to come about this at another time) a website called Jango. On it, you put in artists that you like and it will play songs by them and others like them. Then, you rate the songs to help the player choose future songs. This way, you are able to customize what songs you are hearing.

These things have worked for me. Head over to Shannon's to see other things that work!

Works for Me Wednesday: Monster Cookies

One of the therapists I work with has a daughter, Lydia, who was born blind. They are raising money to send her to China for a special umbilical cord stem cell research treatment that has been shown to correct the problem. Every couple of weeks, our department hosts a fund raiser.

This week, we are all baking cookies and taking them in to sell 1 dozen for $5. I wanted to provide cookies that would be worth that price and would likely sell. I immediately thought of monster cookies. My sister made them one time for Christmas and they were a big hit. They make a large batch that can be eaten soon, or frozen for later. They are also very filling. Here is the recipe I used:

Monster Cookies
12 eggs
4 c. sugar
2 lb. brown sugar
1 lb. butter, softened (not butter)
3 lb. peanut butter
8 tsp. baking soda
1 tbsp. vanilla
18 c. oatmeal
1 lb. plain M&M'S®
12 oz. chocolate chips

Mix all ingredients in order given. To make Monster size cookies use an ice cream scoop to drop cookie dough onto cookie sheets, otherwise a 1/2 inch size ball makes a nice size cookie. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. Makes 20 dozen cookies. You can freeze all ready baked cookies or freeze small 1/2 inch size balls of uncooked cookie dough on cookie sheet. When frozen store in freezer bag or Tupperware until ready to bake.

I cut the recipe in half because I did not think I had a container large enough to mix it all up in. As it turns out, I think I could have done it all in my roasting pan. Go figure. Anyway, I love these cookies and they are great when you need to make a lot.

To learn more about Lydia or to help out, go here. For more WFMW, go over to Shannon's.

I am curious...what is your favorite snack/dessert to make around the holidays or when you are having a lot of people in?

WFMW- Internet Cafe

For my Works for me Wednesday (on Thursday- sorry) I wanted to tell you about something that has been an encouragement to me lately.
Some of you may have seen the CWO Blogroll box in the lower right corner of my site. This is the Christian Woman Online Blogroll that I am a part of. On the Christian Woman website, they have their own blog called "The Internet Cafe."

Here is what they say about the blog:

The Internet Cafe is the team blog for Christian Women Online Magazine, "your daily dose of inspiration." It's a place to kick back, grab a virtual chair at our table, and allow God to fill your cup to running over. It's addictive, but only He can satisfy the craving of your soul.

The past few have been exactly what I need to hear! Isn't it amazing how God uses those around us to speak to us?! All we have to do is be willing to really listen. So, head over to The Internet Cafe and over to Shannon's for more WFMW.

WFMW- Spaghetti

This week, Shannon at Rocks in the Dryer, challenged us with a themed WFMW. She asked what we cook when we don't have a lot of time or when our cupboards are running bare. I thought about this, and while I usually have a frozen pizza on hand, that is less than inspiring to write about.
So, while also pretty uninspiring, I always have the ingredients for spaghetti on hand. It is really pretty simple. But, our family orders a beef each year and divides it up, so I always have ground beef. The noodles are cheap and don't take much room to store. Finally, I buy several different flavors of Del Monte or Hunt's Spaghetti Sauce on hand. I can thaw out the hamburger, season it to however I like, and add the sauce. Whala! (Probably not spelled right, but you get the point.) Dinner. By keeping several different flavors of sauce, it does not always taste the same, so it does not get too boring.
It is really pretty simple- but that is the point, right! It works for me!

WFMW- Auctions

A couple of weekends ago, Andrew went to see Mizzou play Texas A&M in football. I decided I would stay home to save money. However, my plans changed Saturday morning when Nancy called to get a phone number from me. When I asked her what big plans she had for the day, she informed me that she was going to an auction. I love auctions! So, without taking a shower, I threw on a hat and headed out the door for an auction at the last minute. We hit a jackpot! The auction was made up of things from three different elderly ladies homes. There were all kinds of great finds! Nancy and I both got a new set of dishes ($15 for hers and $5 for mine!) among many other things. We filled the back of her mini van and had to call the guys to bring the truck for the rest after the football game. I think my best buy of the day was a blue cabinet that I got for a dollar!

My $1 Cabinet. We are working on stripping it and repainting it this weekend for Brook and Geoff to use in the baby's room.

The thing I like about auctions is that you can get great buys on really unique things. I mean, sure, you will find some that are duds, but the others more than make up for those. And, if you don't see anything you like, you don't have to stay! Auctions are a great place to find tools, dishes, decorations, and baby items. So, if you have never been to an auction before, you are missing out and should go at least once in your life!

Auctions work for me! Head over to Rocks in my Dryer to see what works for others!

WFMW- ProFlowers Delivery

I was talking to my mom about this last night and thought I would share with you. I have never really sent flowers before because I never know what florist to call and whether or not they have good quality flowers or even what the bouquet will look like. Our solution to this has been to use ProFlower.com
Andrew has been wonderful enough to send me flowers at work from ProFlower.com a few times. Once was for my birthday, but the another time was just "Happy Tuesday." The flowers have always been absolutely beautiful and they have lasted over a week each time. They come packed in a vase. One time I got chocolate, and another time I had a Happy Birthday balloon in it.
Recently, it was my grandmother's 80th birthday and we wanted to do something to make her feel special. I thought of the way I feel when the flowers are delivered to me and decided that would be a good option. We decided to go with 100 blooms of Peruvian Lilies. We also added in a balloon. After our radio special offer, thanks to Glen Beck (keyword: Beck), we got an upgraded vase free. The total cost for delivery and everything was only $48- and I am talking about a huge arrangement.
So, ProFlower.com works for me! Go over to Rocks in My Dryer to see what works for others.

WFMW- Getting Rid of Clutter

I have always wanted to be more organized and to keep my house cleaner and less cluttered, but I have always failed miserably. I would go on a cleaning spree and get the house cleaned, but in the past, I have always dropped the ball and within a couple of days, the clutter had returned, and I felt overwhelmed and gave up.
When I started staying at home some, I decided that it was time for a change. I was tired of living everyday being overwhelmed and feeling like I had failed again. I started by reading the Org Junkie site and that helped some. Then, I found Flylady.net. FlyLady takes you through a morning and evening routine, one step at a time. She helped me see that I don't have to tackle the whole thing at one time, but that by tackling one thing at a time, it is not so overwhelming. She also sends email reminders and challenges during the day to help you stay on task. She tells you to take things 15 minutes at a time.
I have been using FlyLady's system for about a week and a half and it has really helped me get more organized. I start my new job next week, so we will see how it goes then. But for now, it Works for Me! For more tips, click here.

Works for Me Wednesday

Yes, I know- another weekly post. But I have really enjoyed these on Sandi's blog and I wanted to share them with you. The basic gist is this- every Wednesday (or most Wednesdays) I will post a tip that has worked for me. Just a little something that has made my life easier. I will also have a link that takes you to the original "Rocks in my Dryer" site where you can see other peoples' tips. I hope you enjoy!

One thing that has worked for us financially is to get an ING Direct savings account. ING Direct is an online bank that offers a higher interest rate than most local banks. They can do this because they do not have many actual banking locations. You still have to keep your local bank account, but you use online banking to transfer funds between your ING accounts and your local bank. It usually takes a couple of days for the transfer to go, so you may want to keep a cushion in your regular account. Right now, the interest rate is 4.3%. They also do CDs and mortgage loans. I don't know about you, but we have always had trouble saving money each month. But, with ING, we have different amounts that are automatically withdrawn each month into different accounts. We have a general savings account, one for our auto insurance bill, one for vacation/travel, etc. You can really set it up for anything you need. Plus, because it is an extra step to get to that money, we are less likely to spend it needlessly. Earn more money and be less likely to spend needlessly? It Works for Me! To see what works for others, go here.