Gymboree Rewards Program

Gymboree is kicking off a Rewards Program - sign up NOW for a 100 bonus points!!

Earn a point for every $1 you spend at Gymboree, gymboree.com, & Gymboree Outlet.

Enjoy these exclusive benefits:

*$5 rewards certificate for every 250 points earned

*Special members-only bonus point events

*Exclusive access to special savings and promotions

*Free class pass plus $20 off enrollment at Gymboree Play & Music (for new members only)

To join, click here!  The bonus points for enrolling in the program are for a limited time, so enroll NOW!!

All marked up

Remember that fabulous deal that I got on clothing from TCP where I paid $2.24 for each piece of clothing?  Well........we can "mark" one of those shirts off the "wearable" list!!  Somebody in my family left a Sharpie marker on the counter a little too close to the edge.  Can you guess who that was and can you guess who discovered said marker?

I am so thankful that her shirt is the only thing she marked up and not my carpet or cabinets!

Menu Plan Monday - week of 8/23/09

Since I am the one that plans the menu, I always get to decide what we are having for dinner.  So, I figure it's only fair to let the other members of my family decide what they would like to have, for one night anyway!  When I asked Lindsay, she didn't hesitate for a moment before saying spaghetti!!! 

I hope somebody out there somewhere is benefiting from my attempt, albeit poor at times, to menu plan.  I love the idea of menu planning, I just hate having to figure out what to actually put on my menu plan!!  However, I am always glad that I made myself put forth the effort.  And the grocery bill savings is great motivation!

Happy Menu Planning!

Mon - Left overs

Tues - Spaghetti with meatballs (Lindsay's request!), salad, green beans

Weds - Home Group Bible Study

Thurs - BLTs (Lance's request!), corn-on-the-cob, fruit

Fri - Grilled Bruschetta Chicken, Balsamic Grilled squash, salad

Sat - out of town

Sun - Maui Chicken (didn't get to this one last week), rice

For more fabulous recipe ideas, please visit OrgJunkie!

Tax Free Weekend

Just wanted to remind everybody that this weekend is Tax Free Weekend...August 21st - 23rd!  

To view the complete list of tax free items, click HERE.

Since backpacks and lunch boxes are included this year, I will be getting Lindsay's from either TCP or Gymboree, since I have coupons for both stores!  I have several 15% off coupons for TCP if anybody wants one to take to the store with you (I'm not sure if you will be charged tax or not if you order online).  And I just received my Circle of Friends coupon from Gymboree that is a 30% off coupon!!

Edited 8/22/09 to add:  I went shopping today and was able to find Lindsay a backpack at The Children's Place.  The backpack was on sale for $10 and the lunch box was on sale for $5.  With my 15% off coupon and no tax, I got both for $12.75!  And, to make the deal even sweeter, Lindsay was totally stoked when I got home and she saw what I bought her!  She kept saying, "Thank you, Mama, thank you"!!  So sweet!

Menu Plan Monday - week of 8/17/09

It's August and it's hot!! I'm kind of tired of sweating it out in my kitchen to get supper on the table and it's way too hot to grill, so I've decided that this weeks menu plan will have a "Slow Cooker" theme. So get out your slow cooker guys and gals, it's time to see what's cooking this week!

Mon - Pizza w/ family

Tues - BBQ Sausage Sandwiches, corn-on-the-cob

Weds - Leftovers

Thurs - Easy Slow Cooked Country Style Pork Ribs, steamed cabbage, fruit salad

Fri - Maui Chicken, rice

Sat - Easy Italian Chicken, green beans

Sun - Simple Supper Sunday

For more fabulous recipes ideas, please visit orgjunkie.com

I have some good coupons to give away...want them?

Here is a list of some coupons that I have that I am not going to be able to use, if you want them let me know:

Boudreaux's Butt Paste - $1 off expires 12/31/09 - (I have 2 of these)

Huggies Wipes - .50 off expires 9/30/09 - (I have 5 of these)

Pampers Diapers - $1 off expires 9/30/09

The Childrens Place - 15% off expires 9/7/09 - (I have 2 of these)...I can email you the web code for these if you are going to order online.

I hate for these to go to waste!

Thyroid Update II

Psalm 31:14 reads "But as for me, I trust in you O Lord, I say "You are my God".

Some of you know that I have been battling thyroid issues for about a year and a half now.  At first I was severely hyperthyroid...I was experiencing extreme weight loss, heart palpitations, muscle weakness, tremors and the list goes on.  I was officially diagnosed with Graves Disease (GD) a few months back.  GD is an autoimmune disorder which is most often the cause of hyperthyroidism.  Most patients that suffer from GD are along for the ride and eventually their thyroid burns itself out within 12 to 24 months.

I started seeing a new doctor back in April and started on a new treatment plan.  I was placed on an anti-thyroid medication called methimazole.  Since that time, I have continued to see improvement in my condition and my blood tests have started showing movement in my "thyroid numbers" closer and closer to normal.

My latest blood tests now show that I have gone to the opposite end of the spectrum...while I am not officially hypothyroid, my "thyroid numbers" are low.  Now I am experiencing weight gain and I am so tired at times.  However, my heart palpitations are pretty much gone and I am not having much of an issue with tremors.  So, in a nutshell, I'm pretty messed up right now!  I don't know what my body is doing and it doesn't either!

I do not wish to dwell in my sickness and have it define who I am.  Nor have I chosen for it to stop me from doing anything...except for maybe housework! :)  However, so many of you have been praying for me and my family during this time, so I feel that it is important to keep you up to date on what is happening.  I came across the verse listed at the beginning of this post sometime last week while I was doing my study.  It states very simply where I will choose to put my trust.