Sock Bun Pinned

I found this on Pinterest and had to try it.  You cut the toe off of a sock, roll it into a doughnut and wrap your ponytail around it.  It's easy and looks like a big, perfect bun.  Just want I need since my hair has thinned in half the thickness it used to be.  My girls loved it and right now are wearing both the socks that I cut.  Sure hate that I threw all those holey and miss matched socks away last month when I was decluttering!

CVS

I haven't really had the time to coupon lately, but was able to grab a few things we needed that CVS had on sale with coupon match ups this week. 

I think we went through 6 boxes of Kleenex this past week, so when I saw them on sale (the kind with lotion, especially), I got some matched with a coupon and it came to $1.16 a box.  I got 3.  The other 3 boxes of Kleenex are the double sized boxes of 184 and I got those for $1.16 a box too.

I planned on getting a couple Purex laundry detergent for BOGO but realized that CVS had their name brand detergent for cheaper and twice as many loads.  I got 2 for $6.

Colgate toothpaste was 50 cent each after coupons and ECBs.

Tampax was 2 for $4.

Eucerin lotion was $5.99 regular price.  With coupons and ECB's, they were $1 each.

I was excited to find gloves and hats for 75% off.  I got 5 of each of those for a ministry opportunity I hope to share with you later this week.

Valentine's candy was 75% off too and I was so glad to see 5 bags of conversation hearts for 49 cents each.....My Man's favorite!

New Crock Pot Recipe

I'm trying a new recipe tonight that looked really good and uses things I had on hand.

I found it at Lynn's Kitchen Adventures.  She has a great site with yummy recipes and oftentimes free e-books.  I've been a subscriber for a few years.

You can find this easy recipe here for Slow Cooked Tamale Casserole.  I'm going to add some fried okra and we will be set!

If Mama Ain't Healthy Then...

If you read my family blog, you might have seen that as of today, we have had 5 Fish people diagnosed with the flu in the last week and 2 people with strep.

I'm in survival mode, people.

Tonight I was thinking about getting a room at a hotel when my girls started moaning in unison for long periods of time.....I'm cold.  My head hurts.  I hate being sick.  When will this be over?  My stomach is cramping.  I can't warm up.  Hand me the tissues.  (Say those sentences over and over in the most whiny, fussy, moaning way you can imagine, times it by 3 or 4 and then you'll get the picture.)  This is why I did not go to nursing school but majored in special ed.  I would rather get bit by a child with autism any day over this sick drama.

I don't mean to sound insensitive, and I promise, I am a kind, loving mother to my sick children.  I'm just sharing what's on the inside that is about to explode.

When my firstborn was sick last weekend, he amazed me.  He stayed on the couch quietly.  When he woke up in the middle of the night, he set up the vaporizer, he used the Neti Pot, he got more blankets - and he never woke us up.  I was shocked.  It almost made me sad that he didn't use his mommy to help him.

Now that my girls all have the flu.....OOOHHH.......MMMMYYYY.......WWWWOOORRRDDDD!!!  I just might be like Forest Gump and keeping running and running and running until I hit the Pacific!

So here's what the Herbal Nut Mom's counter looks like.  Not exactly what you might think.  It was time to pull out the big guns this time.  I guess I shouldn't complain.  If I recall correctly the last time this happened to us (and only other time) was when Ruth was a baby (she just turned 8) and my parents were in WA visiting my sister and my in-laws were in Turkey visiting My Man's sister and everyone had the flu, including ME!!!  It wasn't pretty!  And we never even went to the doctor.  I'm not sure the last time we had a sick visit at the doctor.  I do know that the last time a Fish Stick was on antibiotics was when Josiah's ear drum burst from an ear infection and that was 4 1/2 years ago.  That's a pretty good record, if I don't say so myself.  So my herbs must be working some.  The record has been broken.  The PA at the Walgreens clinic AND the one at the CVS clinic know us by name.

So right now, my biggest concern is that I will get sick.  I don't want to put that awful burden on anyone, especially My Man.  Thank goodness G & G are next door and not across the ocean this time!  Here's my pills I've been popping.  My immune system better be top notch after using all these vitamins.  And the hand sanitizer?  I might as well be bathing in it with my frequent use.

So if you think about it, say a quick prayer for fast recovery, no sick Fish Mama in the future, and lots and lots of nurturing love from me in spite of the whining so I don't scar my kids for life!

CVS This Week

I didn't have time this week to hit both my drug stores, but I had time for one.  CVS was across the street from my son's orthodontist appointment so that was the one I chose.  I got:

Rapid Sleep PM - Free
3 boxes Kleenex - 81 cents each
Contact solution - 99 cents
6 Chapstick - $1 each
6 Halls cough drops - $1 each
4 bags of M&Ms - $2 each

Anyone else find any good deals? 

I almost forgot, I was in Office Depot getting some copies made when I saw large bottles of Cocoa Butter lotion for 42 cents each, orange concentrate cleaner for 33 cents each and flash drives 16GB for $5 each.  Score!!  I got 2 of everything.  The flash drives were super cute with pink swirlies on them too. 

Don't forget to be on the lookout for great deals in the least likely places!

Clean Attic

Monday was my day with no kids since I "share" my kids with 2 friends 2/3 of the Mondays.  My plan was to attack my attic.  It gets cleaned and organized about once every year or so but continues to get trashed and dumped on and increase in junk.  My goal was to complete it during the school hours.

I reviewed some books before hitting it.  Don Aslett's book "Clutters Last Stand" is one I borrow from my mom, so it's not pictured but the principals are the same.  If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it!  "Get rid of junk you don't use regularly."

This was what I saw upon opening the door.  UGG!  Totally embarrassing!

We have saved boxes over the years so that in the event that we move, we can put things in their original box.  It was time to get rid of these boxes.  This photo is ONLY boxes!  Big boxes!!  We filled Grandaddy's truck bed with them for the trip to the dump.  Thanks Grandaddy and Grandma for your help!

I wasn't alone in the attic all day.  Nope - I found this little "friend."  Totally freaked me out when I lifted the box to see this little guy.  Thankfully he was dead and from that moment on, I was paranoid with every box I lifted and every thing I moved.  I was ready for a swarm of these guys to attack me.  Thankfully, he was solo.  I put him in a shoe box for the dump.  YUCKO!

I did it!!!  From 9:00-2:30 with a 10 minute lunch break - working like a mad woman until the job was done.  In addition to the truck load of boxes and trash, I also have another truck load of donations to head to the donation drive at the school tomorrow.

 

Ahh - Now if it would only last....

Happy Happy Happy

Last weekend My Man made me a happy, happy woman. (He always makes me happy...this was just special.) In half of our basement is a Lionel train set room. My Man and son started building it probably 5 years ago. It has sat untouched and unfinished for over a year now. The train project became too expensive, too time-consuming and too overwhelming. We sold the trains on eBay to help with our adoption expenses in the fall. My Man spent all of Saturday unscrewing the track and taking apart the train tables that filled the room. He rebuilt the room to have shelves lining the walls for my stock pile and canned goods.

I was so happy because I can about 100 quarts of vegetables and fruits every summer. I fill my pantry and then try to find other vacant shelves, cabinets, boxes, furniture,....anywhere. Since I began couponing, I have also filled my bathroom closet plus loaded under my bed with boxes of our stockpile.

No more!! I call it the Fish Store. I made labels for the walls and now I can send the Fish Sticks to the basement to get things that we have run out of. It's not near as extreme as the Extreme Couponers on tv. I'm not into hoarding, but it is nice to be organized and to have everything in its proper place. Plus now I can efficiently suck up those huge dust bunnies under my bed. Not only am I happy, happy, happy but so is My Man.