Cheaper by the Dozen and Get One Free

Merry Christmas: FREE E Book.... Newly Released: Tiny Titan, One Small Gift

2011-12-13T11:37:00.000-08:00

The Free Christmas Chapter From Tiny Titan, One Small Gift
Download Tiny Titan, One Small Gift FREE here.

Chapter 9
Christmas

I sunk into despair. The holiday was fast approaching and Christmas was the last thing on our minds with Becca critically ill in the PICU and everyone else sick too. There was no money for gifts, and there was no time to buy or make anything. I was sick, tired and depressed over the circumstances we found ourselves in. If the phone rang, I was afraid to answer it because it might carry the news that Becca was worsening or no longer here. The phone was a constant reminder of trouble. It rang with bill collectors waiting for money. It rang when medical personnel had more dreaded news or another crisis for Becca. My emotions rose and fell like tidal waves, up, up, up and down, down, down. I tried not to think; not thinking was how I coped. It was like the stairs I ran at the hospital, up and down, and then I’d stop and sit, empty and mindless. I could not think about my children going without gifts at Christmas, but our lives were impossibly out of control. We had fallen into a dark hole due to no fault of my innocent children. At any moment they were going to lose their new baby sister. They were caught in the tidal wave of catastrophic illness when they needed a Santa most to give them hope. How would I explain to my children that Santa forgot them?

I was used to planning ahead and beginning in July bought two presents each month to cover birthdays and Christmas. Over the years my frugal plan had worked flawlessly. I squirreled away the hottest toys for Christmas gifts with early season purchases. While other families were school shopping I was making wishes come true. It was a challenge to make my kids birthdays and Christmas memorable. I love the holidays and I began to bargain shop for Marissa’s September birthday gift. I budgeted a little each month until Christmas, finding sale and clearance treasures, completing my shopping race under budget. In November we celebrated Jim, Nathan and Ian’s birthdays followed in December by Matt’s birthday, and then Kristy’s birthday in early January. The gifts I bought with Jim’s carpet points guaranteed the boys November birthday gifts. Matt at age three was easy; all I needed was something big. Big for my little kids were exciting and ten dollars went a long way. Other than that I had nothing. We had already used the house payment money to pay for medicine, throat cultures and doctors visits for the kids and me while we were sick.

I was a rookie in the being broke game. I called Toys for Tots and discovered I was too late. They quit accepting new registrations before Thanksgiving. Luckily I remembered buried in the rafters, hidden from my sneaky children I had one gift I had purchased before things fell apart. Before Becca was born I had purchased the new pirate ship Lego set that had caught Nathan’s eye. It was an expensive present, and I could put both boys’ names on it. I had already cut out doll clothes and a dance costume for Marissa, but the fabric pieces remained on my closet shelf while I was sick. Now that Marissa was home from kindergarten I would not be able to get the covert sewing done, besides I was still too dizzy to sew my visions for Marissa’s holiday present. My eyes were seeing double. We would share dinner with relatives and I hoped I would have a dish to pass, but my cupboards were as bare as Old Mother Hubbard’s. My head spun at the thoughts of a hopeless Christmas and the room took another whirl; exhausted I took some Benadryl and fell back to sleep.

While I slept, Kristy took the picture of Becca from the fireplace and sat alone in a quiet place to cry. It was something I never knew she did until years later. People often think children don’t know what’s happening but they are much more a part of the reality than the adults realize. Kristy never complained and she protected us by caring for the little ones and not adding to our burdens. I worried sometimes about how this would affect her in the future. Today, she tells me it was the substance that made her strong.

The little elves in my family executed a Christmas plan. Kristy found the Christmas tree in the garage, and she and Nathan, my mechanic, assembled it. Ian and Marissa got busy cutting out paper snowflakes and hung them with dental floss from the ceiling and windows. My little red and green sewing pins stuck six stockings to the mantle. When I awoke, they surprised me with their magical transformation. I had not lifted a finger. They had carefully hung each of their hand made wooden, beaded angel and needlework ornaments crafted by Jim’s parents. Hundreds of hours of love radiated from the tree centered in a carpet of paper snowflake snippets.

I explained to them that Christmas was about family and being together and sharing memories. What was going to be special about this Christmas was that the Yurceks were a family. Christmas is about the baby in the manger who brings hope to a dying world. Our baby was in the hospital and all we had was hope. After spending seven days in bed, I was regaining my strength.

Why did I feel such shame that Santa might not come this year? I prayed, “Oh Lord, How can I find gifts for Kristy, Marissa and Matt? It is already December 23. How can I let my children down? How can I face Christmas morning empty handed? The kids’ baby sister is dying. They need something good to happen. Please don’t let their baby sister die at Christmas.”

My children were ready for Christmas. I was not. I couldn’t expect my parents to shower my children with toys; they were struggling with my dad’s recent unemployment. My parents blessed my children with attention, but had no financial resources to give.

Becca was transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) just as I had fallen ill. It had been a very long nine days and finally the kids and I were well. I was healthy enough to see Becca and had been given clearance to drive. I was no longer dizzy.

The PICU had a circular desk, and different beds surrounded it. Off to the side with glass doors were the isolation rooms. One of them housed my Becca, who looked so tiny in the crib in such a big room. She was on oxygen, and they explained to me that she kept forgetting to breathe due to the RSV and pneumonia. The respiratory therapist gave her a treatment to help clear her lungs. She had a blood staph infection, her feedings were on hold, and they were giving her nutrition and fluid by IV. Her heart was in failure. Merry Christmas was far from my thoughts. Bah Humbug! This was not merry, not merry at all. I was dreading Christmas and I was feeling like Ebenezer Scrooge.

Startled out of my doldrums, Mary was standing in front of me saying hello. The nurses had called her to let her know I had arrived. She had something she needed me to sign. That’s all I had been doing, signing, and waiting, and hoping, and praying. Bah Humbug!

She took me to her office. I had no idea where her office was as she always brought the paperwork to me. She opened the door and picked up a large shopping bag. Her smile radiated. “Merry Christmas!” she exclaimed. The nurses had shopped for families who would be without for the holidays. They picked out a present for each one of my six kids. They even purchased the batteries for the remote control car for Nathan. They thought of everything. The bag contained a roll of wrapping paper, bows and even the tape. It’s nooks and crannies were filled with little treats – a box of candy canes and five chocolate Santa Clauses to peek out of the top of the stockings. Miracles really do happen and my wish had been granted. My kids would have Christmas.

Mary told me that the hospital employees often play Santa for families to make sure they would not face the holidays empty handed. She knew that if I were skipping meals to feed the children, there would be nothing for Christmas.

I returned to Becca’s isolation room. She was much too sick to be held. I savored a moment of calm and thankfulness. Slowly I was learning to savor tiny moments of peace and tranquility. I stayed by her side quietly reading before heading home with my miracle sack. I felt so thankful for the graciousness of these kind people. With my ritual kiss goodbye and whispering I love you, I prayed to her angels that she would be here when I returned.

My kids are notoriously nosy and I wanted to surprise them on Christmas morning. I rushed off to pick up Matt and Marissa at Mom’s and stashed the Christmas gifts before the older ones had a clue. While I had been sick, Mom had been busy and blessed us with another surprise. She had sewn Kristy and Marissa new Christmas dresses and my aunt had bought sweaters for the three boys. All my five kids would have new matching outfits to wear for Christmas.

Jim closed the store early on Christmas Eve and helped me dress the little kids for the Christmas Eve service. I told Jim my secret miracle and we smiled eye messages across the heads of our stair step sized children sitting between us in the church pew. We sang for the birth of baby Jesus and our hearts cried out for a Christmas miracle for Becca. After the service the kids played in the manger, Marissa and Matt rode the lifelike donkey proclaiming they were on their way to Bethlehem while I stared down at the tiny doll in the manger and said a quiet prayer for my little baby lying so far away, all alone, in a bed in the PICU. We needed hope in the midst of such incredible sorrow.

Mom invited us for cake and ice cream after the service, but I had other plans. Families are supposed to be together and I was not going to allow Becca to be alone on Christmas. We all went to the hospital to visit Becca, but only Kristy and I were able to go to PICU. Jim stayed with the other kids in the lobby while Kristy and I went to say Merry Christmas to Becca. Each child had made Becca a card and the nurse taped the cards to the wall above her bed. I hung Becca’s handmade stocking on the foot of her crib, putting on the Christmas music Kristy had recorded. I made a special Christmas wish, asking for a miracle for Becca. I left her again with a kiss on her feverish cheek and wished her a Merry Christmas and a very blessed goodnight. The walk from PICU to the lobby seemed endless, my heart heavy laden with grief, babies should be home with mommies and daddies on Christmas Eve.

Fresh snow had fallen, and instead of hurrying home on the freeway we meandered past the lighted mansions on Summit Avenue of St. Paul. We passed the Cathedral and the Governor’s manor. The children marveled at the beautifully decorated homes. Matt clapped his hands in joy, while the others argued over which house was the favorite. Ian and Kristy engaged in a competitive battle. Marissa’s face was lit up from the wonder of the lights and its beauty. The kids were enjoying the ride so much that we wound our way home through parks, and lakes, and residential streets for over an hour. It was peaceful and calming. The kids quieted and Matt fell asleep.

Scattered snowflakes were falling and Jim and I listened to the Christmas music playing from the radio. The radio DJ announced that Santa was spotted circling the globe, and Marissa and Ian excitingly questioned how he managed to get all the work done in one evening?

This explanation I left to Jim, it was his turn to try to satisfy his children’s curiosity. His eyes sparkled as he told them Santa was magic and can make anything happen if you only believe. It was a heavenly ride. I reached across the seat setting my hand on Jim’s knee. Jim’s answer had satisfied the children’s curiosity, and Kristy had caught my glare, playing along with the magic of the moment.

It was nearly midnight when we arrived home and the house was pitch black to save on electricity. As we pulled in the driveway, the mini van’s lights shone upon dark shadows lying near the door. Jim hopped out of the van to see what was going on. Then he summoned us as if it were nothing.

As I reached in the back seat to get sleeping Matt, the children shrieked, “Santa came! He came! Santa was already here!”

What were they talking about? I grabbed a confused, groggy Matt. There were nearly a dozen or so thirty-gallon black trash bags left sitting by our front door. Jim and the big kids carried in the bags.

The children tore open the plastic bags to discover dozens of wrapped presents with their names on them. It was blessed chaos. There were tons of groceries, toilet paper, and shampoo. Everything we were out of. Kristy, Nathan and Ian were stacking the packages by the tree while Marissa and Matt played mountain climbers scaling the huge mounds of packages. Kristy screamed as she caught the tree from falling. Marissa narrowly escaped a plunge from the top of Gift Mountain. Our children were bouncing off the walls, but we finally convinced them that it wasn’t Christmas yet, and Santa required they open presents on Christmas morning like in The Night Before Christmas. They didn’t argue because we had just read the story.

Marissa wondered why Santa left them outside, instead of bringing them down the chimney. Ian, who always had an answer for everything, announced, “he had so much dummy; if he brought the bags down the chimney, he would get the chimney stopped up.” Kristy added “that the house was locked and he could not bring them in the door.” Finally they all scampered off to their rooms and soon were snuggled in beds dreaming of Christmas miracles.

Shortly after midnight the phone rang. It was the resident from PICU calling us to let us know Becca had turned the corner and they upgraded her status to stable. She was improving and was breathing easier so they had removed the ventilator; Becca was now breathing on her own and on supplemental oxygen! Becca was getting better! My Christmas prayers had been answered. And someone, some Santa somewhere had fulfilled my wishes. He or she arrived with bags of toys, and goodies, and groceries. My cupboards would no longer be bare. Jim and I had no means to provide for our family, yet someone, somewhere, knew our needs. I thanked the baby in the manger for this Christmas miracle.

Jim and I put away the much-needed groceries. Two turkeys, packages of hamburger and chicken went into the freezer. We put the canned goods on the shelves . . .apples and oranges, carrots and potatoes, and onions . . . bathroom and hygiene products. There were even a couple loaves of expensive rice bread. Whoever brought this Christmas miracle, had not forgotten anything. They had even picked up a double pack of diapers for Matt who was regressing from his potty training in his upside down life.

The real Christmas miracles were hidden in the tiny details. Buried deep in one of the bags I discovered a brand new pair of much needed white Reebok tennis shoes for me. They fit perfectly. We filled the stockings with candy and small gifts from the bags the kids had not seen. With the gifts from the hospital and the one from us for Nathan and Ian, we had more presents than we had ever imagined. Our room looked like a Hollywood movie Christmas morning scene. Where did all this come from?

Jim and I crawled into bed, hoping to get a few hours of sleep before the kids scrambled upon us to open their presents. They were tired from the late night and for the first time ever on Christmas morning; they slept until 8:00 A.M..

Kristy in her sweats and the little ones in their blanketed sleepers tore into the pile of packages. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, I lost count of the gifts they each received. Nathan screamed pulling out a pair of roller blades, the current hottest trend retailing at $l50 a pair. Who had done this? Ian soon discovered he had a pair too! Kristy found a boom box, a jewelry box, curling iron and music to play. Packages marked to the Yurcek family contained a VCR to replace the one that had been stolen when our house had been robbed and ransacked right before Becca’s birth. There were movies, games, books, colored markers, and art kits for each child. Even Becca was not forgotten. She got new clothes, a diaper bag, several new pink animals and more music. Marissa found a big package with a dollhouse and furniture. She was surrounded in pink heaven. Matt tunneled and laughed through the wrapping paper and boxes. We corralled him to open his presents, a big floppy eared dog, trucks, cars and a train track. The boys tried to set up their new remote control car racing set in the middle of the wrapping mess.

Jim was not to be forgotten and he discovered new socks, sweats, jeans and a belt. He handed me a tiny box from under the tree that he discovered while we were cleaning up and making sure all the tiny toy pieces were not thrown away with the mountain of boxes and wrapping paper. Inside was a solid sterling silver heart necklace with six tiny stones. The necklace was a reminder of hope, a mother’s heart with my six precious children. The six little diamonds sparkled in rainbow colors from our Christmas tree. It was bittersweet to look at as Becca’s heart was slowly failing. But I reminded myself that for today Becca was doing better, and this Christmas we had witnessed a true miracle. Some unknown Santa with a caring heart had done all this for us. But who, how, when?

___________

No longer were our cupboards bare. The kids and I made a fresh fruit salad with real whipped cream. Kristy peeled the apples and Nathan chopped them along with slicing frozen strawberries. Marissa cut banana coins with a bread knife and Ian added one handful of marshmallows to his mouth before adding the next handful to the magical miracle bowl of Christmas fruit.

We dressed for Christmas dinner at my cousins. The family celebrated the day together with aunts and uncles, cousins and second cousins. All were there but one, our Becca.

No longer would we be hungry again. We had food for the next month until our food stamp case opened. The kids had new toys to keep them occupied. We had warm clothing and mittens. I later discovered when our bills arrived, that some unknown Santa paid our phone bill, the utility bills, and our car insurance! We will be forever grateful for the gifts of that year, and we will never forget we witnessed a true Christmas miracle. I have from then on remembered to give back to others as you did for us. Thank you! What you did for us that year was unbelievable! You gave us the gift of hope and belief in miracles.

Buried in one of the bags of the hundreds of dollars in gifts we found a card, wishing us a “Merry Christmas and to all, and to all a good night. You are loved! Santa.”

Those were the same words whispered in tiny Becca’s ear ten days earlier. Was it connected?

Over the next few years, the miracles continued helping us when we needed it most. I tried to find who our anonymous Santa was but we never discovered the giver of the gifts. Whoever it was did not want to be found out. Maybe someday that person or persons will read my writing, and I will finally be able to thank her or him for our Christmas miracle and generosity.

Perhaps, we will never know.

Becca's Best Movie Deal: Target Cars 2 DVD $.99 after Rebates without any coupons

2011-10-30T12:01:00.000-07:00

The cars deals just keep coming. For those who don't care about having the big combo pack, you can pick up the Cars 2 for $15.99 at Target.

Today's paper has a new rebate:
Rayovac $5.00 off Any Cars 2 movie
Use the Huggies Rebate, Buy $20.00 worth of Huggies Products and Cars 2 and get a $10.00 Rebate.

Making the Cars 2 only $.99 after rebate

Becca's Best Movie Deal: Cars 2--5 Disc FREE at Best Buy after Coupon and Rebates

2011-10-30T06:16:00.000-07:00

November 1 Disney Cars 2 is being released. Movie Trailer and Games
Meet Becca our Movie Deal Blogger

Use the $5.00 Disney Cars 2 mfg. coupon

There are two rebates on Cars 2
Buy $10.00 worth of Band-Aid brand adhesive bandages, Neosporin Lip Health, Neosporin, Johnson and Johnson Red Cross brand, or Cortaid and get a $10.00 Rebate.

Buy $20.00 worth of Huggies Products and Cars 2 and get a $10.00 Rebate.

Buy Cars 2--5 Disc Combo Pack for $24.99
Use $5.00 mfg. coupon from Disney Movie Rewards
Pay $19.99
Submit for Huggies Rebate $10.00
Submit for Band-aids Rebate $10.00
Get for FREE and a $0.01 moneymaker

Check out our Target Money Making Deal. May require a little ingenuity, with rolling a gift card and a price match, but for a little effort it can score you a 5 dollar bill after rebates.

Walgreens: Pampers Jumbo Deal

2011-10-29T21:05:00.000-07:00

Pampers Jumbo Packs – 2/$20 Get a $3 Register Reward when you buy 2

Buy 2 at 2/$20
Use $2/2 Pampers Diapers bags, $2/1 Diapers or Pants 10/30/2011 P&G Insert (exp 11/30/2011)
Use $2/1 Pampers Cruisers or Swaddlers 2/1/2011 Walgreens Infant Care Booklet (exp 12/31/2011) (It will take off $4.00)
Pay $14.00 for 2 packs of Pampers Jumbo Packs
Get $3.00 Register Reward
Net Total: $11.00/2 or $5.50 per pack

Becca's Best Movie Deals: Target: Cars 2 for FREE-- $10.00

2011-10-29T19:09:00.000-07:00

November 1 Disney Cars 2 is being released. Movie Trailer and Games
Meet Becca our Movie Deal Blogger
Target has the 5 Disc Blu-Ray Combo Package for $29.99

Bring your Best Buy Ad and Price Match at Target for $24.99

You could always just head to Best Buy and use the Disney Coupon and submit for the rebates and get it for free. Or you can head to Target and get it for FREE and have extra money refunded to help cover the costs associated with getting the rebates.

Use the $5.00 Disney Cars 2 mfg. coupon

There are two rebates on Cars 2
Buy $10.00 worth of Band-Aid brand adhesive bandages, Neosporin Lip Health, Neosporin, Johnson and Johnson Red Cross brand, or Cortaid and get a $10.00 Rebate.

Buy $20.00 worth of Huggies Products and Cars 2 and get a $10.00 Rebate.

For even better savings, I just found out that Target will have a coupon for a $5.00 Target Gift Card when you buy $25.00 worth of Kimberly Clark Products, like Huggies, Pullups, Cottonelle, Viva etc.

Also the Target Ad has a Target Gift Card Deal for buy 2 Huggies Boxes $29.99 each and get a $10.00 Gift Card. I am thinking the Coupon and the Automatic Gift Card deals may stack. I will be trying to find 2 of the Target Sunday Paper Coupons and stack the boxes with 2--Target Coupons and get $5.00 Target Gift Cards. Check back Tuesday night to see if I have success. It works and I scored $20.00 in Target Gift Cards for buying Huggies.

My Regular Target I know will work scenario deal if you can score the Target Kimberly Clark Coupon.

Transaction #1
Buy Two cases of Huggies for $29.99 get $10.00 Gift Card. Use 22 buy $25.00 worth of Kimberly Park Products before coupons, GET $5.00 Gift Card

Transaction #2

Buy Cars 2 $29.99 Price Match Best Buy $24.99
use $5.00 mfg. coupon
use $5.00 or $10.00 Target gift card from buying Kimberly Clark Products
use $10.00 Target Gift Card for buying 2 Huggies
Pay $14.99 for Cars 2--5 Disc Combo Package ($14.24 if using Target Red Card)
Submit for Band-aid Rebate $10.00
Submit for Huggies Rebate $10.00
Total Cost: FREE$$ Before REBATES :)

** While I was logged into my Disney Movie Rewards, I used 100 points for a free Box of Pop Secret.

I also logged in some codes:
SIMBA for 25 points
FPSNN83JX9 for 25 points (New reward members only)
HSIU87FJ457 for 5 points
and for new members only HUNNY and MATER are getting some people points.

Becca had to help me put together the deal before she left for Michigan to visit her brother on Friday. I was under orders to get it done for Brody our grandson who is Cars 2 obsessed.

Today I updated it for her and put together the blog post. Life has been busy since summer and our blog has been neglected big time. But for a very good reason, we have a wee little foster guy to care for. It will be a Cars 2 Christmas at our house this year for the two toddler boys.

Time with Family

2011-06-23T06:04:00.000-07:00

We are just back from Minnesota spending precious time with family. Kristy and Chris and the two little girls will be moving soon to the other side of the world as Chris will be heading up a start up of a new 3M company from Singapore. So this Nana is a little sad, but in the day of global world and technology we will find a way to keep connected.

One can't have a trip to the Como zoo without a treat. Mahala certainly was enjoying her sucker and became one sticky mess. But that is what summer and fun is about.

Papa and his boy. Brody absolutely loves his Papa and I think the feeling is mutual.

Detamara enjoying watching the little nieces and nephew play.

Kristy and Mahala. Our kids do grow up and they become amazing parents. Miss Mahala is soon to be two and one busy little lady.

Brody is now fourteen months and his parents Nathan and Stacey are having fun playing with this patient and cautious little guy.

Doc and Becca enjoying our trip to the zoo. A beautiful day to spend time at the zoo with Kristy and the girls making precious memories.

I couldn't but not think back to when Jim and I took wee Kristy and Nathan to the Como zoo not too far from our first home. Two blond little tikes riding in the water boats in the amuzement park after our visiting the animals and seeing Sparky the seal. Time flies by in the blink of an eye and now we are blessed to be able to take our grandchildren and relive those precious memories.

Inexpensive Alternatives for AG Bitty Baby Doll Wear

2010-12-10T14:38:00.000-08:00

Bitty Baby is dressed for Christmas!

With getting American Girl Bitty Babies for wee ones I thought I would post my favorite frugal alternative to paying $26.00 per outfit.

I buy Child of Mine by Carters Preemie Baby Sleepers in the Infant Department at Walmart. Often I will find the sleepers and other preemie wear for as little as $1.00 an sleeper or outfit on clearance. This Christmas Reindeer sleeper is only $7.00 full price.

Little girls will love the cute preemie pink ballet sleepers and appliqued pink pastel monkey sleepers which just came in. Top them off with making dolly headbands with bows for durable doll clothes.

I used a remnant of red bumpy blanket material and lined it with a red Christmas flannel to make Bitty a matching blanket. As soon as I find my hot glue gun the matching set will be finished with a red satin dot headband.

To make a Bitty Baby Blanket

Cut two fabrics 20 inches by 24 inches
Pin right sides together
Using 1/4 inch seam allowance
Begin in the center of one side and stitch around the rectangle, leaving a 4 inch opening.
(I put the slippery bumpy blanket material on the bottom to keep things from slipping)
Clip the corners
Slip and use a point turner or a pin to pull out the corners
Tuck in the seam in the opening and pin
Edge stitch the perimeter with a coordinating color
A Bitty Baby Blanket to match her Preemie Sleeper :)

And Bitty Needs Diapering

Buy a package of Huggies Preemie Diapers for $8.99. Right now they ship for FREE at Babies R Us. If you can find them in the store, use one of the many Huggies coupons to save $$. I used to ration them to make them last.

Can You Believe I Got All This for 77 Cents Including 5 Udis Gluten-Free Baked Goods!

2010-10-31T17:41:00.000-07:00

Total Spent: $.77 Total Saved: $67.72

I had FUN this week. I began with rolling a Register Reward at Walgreens and ended up with a FREE Colgate Sensitive Toothpaste (not pictured), 2 Boxes of Contac, 2 Packages of Huggies Diapers. I paid for candy bars to roll the rewards and those are not included.

Then we were off to Hyvee to spend my $30.00 in Catalina shopping rewards for buying General Mills Cereal last week. I bought 6 boxes of cereal x 5 times thru the register for $2.00 each trip and got a $6.00 Catalina each time.

Walgreens: Total: Nothing but including the Royal jello $.60
Total Savings $29.80 (Sale Prices)

Hyvee: 3 Udis Harvest Grain Bread @ $4.88 ($5.99), 2 Udis Muffins @ $5.99, 3 Birds Eye Vegetables $1.25 ($1.79), 2 Gatorade $.50 ($1.25)
Used 5--$6.00 Catalina Shopping Rewards from General Mills Cereal last week's Deals
Total Paid: $.17
Total Savings: Including Sale and Catalina Coupons $37.92

I would never believed that I could be able to get ridiculous expensive Gluten-Free products for nothing until today :)

Becca's Best Movie Deal: 11/2 Release: Toy Story 3 Combo Pack $6.99 After Rebates

2010-10-31T07:43:00.000-07:00

Becca's Best Movie Deals found another for you. Meet Becca the Movie Deal Writer.

Get Toy Story 3 Combo Pack for $6.99 after Rebates.

Buy Toy Story 3 Combo Pack $24.99
Use $8.00 mfg. coupon
Total $16.99
Submit for $5.00 Campbells Rebate
Submit for $5.00 Rayovac Rebate
Final Price $6.99 after rebates

Purchase 3 Campbells Condensed kids soups or SpaghettiOs pasta (You can save $1/3 with this printable coupon)
Remove one of the 2 purchase tabs from the back of the movie and mail it and the original receipt along with your Campbell’s receipt and UPC and this form to receive $5 back.

Rayovac Rebate $5.00 is in posted at Rayovac.com, and there was a $1.00 Rayovac coupon in Sunday's paper.

There are 2 Proof of Purchase Tabs and so it should be easy to submit for both rebates. The Rayovac will take a copy of your receipt with the UPC on the batteries and the Proof of Purchase tab off the DVD.

Enjoy the movie with your kids!

Our Family Paying it Forward in the Dubuque Paper

2010-10-30T12:04:00.001-07:00

I just thought I would post this story that was in the Dubuque Telegraph Gerald on Thursday of this week.

Nana Shops: $9.99 Thomas the Early Engineer Sets at Target

2010-10-30T11:32:00.000-07:00

Nana Shops

This deal is worth getting ready for and watching for the new Target Toy book which is now posted at Black Friday.com. I just got my Jolly Holiday Gift Guide today in the mail and so the Toy book should be heading out soon. There are dozens of Target coupons in the book which can be combined with manufacturers coupons.

Thomas Early Engineer Round About Station $24.99
Use $10.00 Coupon Found in Parenting the Early Years November Issue pg. 101
Use $5.00 Target Coupon from New Toybook for Any Early Engineers Set
Pay $9.99

I kind of wished I had waited for the Target Coupon but still I did score an incredible buy for the wee ones. I will have to scrounge around for some more magazines and coupons and get some more for Toys for Tots.

I ended up with 2 coupons and scored this incredible deal...

Thomas Early Engineers Round About Station 2 @ $24.99 = $49.98
Used 2 @ $10.00 mfg. coupons - $20.00
Total $29.98
Used 4--$5.00 Gift Cards from Candles, Tampax, and Dial purchases (first transaction)
Paid $9.98/2

Nana Shops: FREE Veggie Tales, The Incredible Singing Christmas Tree Album

2010-10-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

Nana Shops

Download the entire album Veggie Tales' The Incredible Singing Christmas Tree for FREE from Amazon.com

Nana Hint: Buy a Bargain MP3 player on Black Friday (Last I found one at Walmart for $29.99) or an old IPOD and load it with FREE Kid Albums like this one from Amazon for the car while running errands or traveling with the Wee ones.

Nana Shops: Preview Targets Toy Catalog and Leapster Explorer Matchup

2010-10-30T08:50:00.000-07:00

Nana Shops

Target's Christmas Toy Catalog is now posted at Black Friday.com.

One incredible deal is for the Leapfrog's Leapster Explorer for $59.99.

Use a $10.00 coupon from specially marked boxes of Chocolate Cheerios. I found the coupon when I got all my $.50 boxes of cereal at our Hyvee last week.

Deal:
Buy Leapster Explorer $59.99
Use $10.00 off mfg. coupon
Pay $49.99 for Leapster Explorer

For those who have the Leapster 2 and want to expand your games this Christmas....

There are also Leapster Games for $12.44 (Ni Hao Kai-Lan, Cars, Star Wars). There were $5.00 off coupons in many of the lunch boxes at Target for Back to School that do not expire until 12-31-10.

Deal:
Buy Leapster Game $12.44
Use $5.00 off coupon
Pay $7.44

For a review of the Leapster Explorer.
One of the biggest drawback of the New Leapster Explorer it that it is not compatible with the Leapster 2 games.
The new system is much more complicated to set up.
Not easy for the new younger gamer or kids with frustration tolerance issues.
Our test drive with it was that our 5 year-old Leap frog fan still prefers the Leapster 2.

Nana Shops: American Girl Doll Free Shipping Code

2010-10-19T07:13:00.001-07:00

NANA SHOPS

Free shipping when you spend $50.00 or more at AmericanGirl.com
Code: PF02831 valid until 11/7/10

Thanks you to Tara at Deal Seeking Mom for posting this code.

It has been now nearly 20 years since the first American Girl Doll came into our home when Marissa used her modeling money to buy Kirsten and since then it has been a holiday tradition for my her and the younger girls to get new dolls, outfits, accessories and Mom sewn and designed fashions for their dolls.

Miss Kasja and Miss Mahala will begin the next generation of the Yurcek American Girl Doll tradition with the two dolls that will arrive for Christmas with this code. This Nana will be sewing up some Christmas surprises to go with them for my two little sweethearts.

TAG Readers $10 at Target Shipped FREE

2010-10-17T08:30:00.000-07:00

DEAL GONE

Tag Readers are $10.00 on price cut at Target.com with FREE Shipping.

We have given many TAG Readers at gifts and I watch for books on sale and combine the sale with coupons. I have scored many FREE or inexpensive books by watching clearance racks and using coupons.

The TAG Reader can store TAG Jr. books.

They also just came out with Early Reader books to help your child progress on their reading skills.

Impromptu Fall Field Trip

2010-09-30T07:46:00.000-07:00

Not wanting to waste a beautiful fall day, Detamara and I went on an impromptu fall field trip to Cassville, WI. We found out that Cassville was named after the first governor of the Michigan Territory (1827), Lewis Cass. The first Governor of Wisconsin Nelson Dewey (1848) lived there, and he is buried in Lancaster. On the way home we figured out where in town that was. We had visual/hands on history is how persons with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders learn best.

Stonefield is a historic town and agriculture Museum we visited.

Detamara checked out the train and was figuring out what this lever was for.

We went to school old fashioned style, while in school modern style.

Detamara checking out the school desks. She thought it would be much too noisy with all the different ages of kids all in one room for her to learn. Detamara needs a small quiet one-on-one environment to learn with her FASD.

What Mom learned was for Detamara to be successful out in the community, she needs one-on-one support to go to new places. She did not have time to think about going, and we just went. Other times we need to give her prompts and cues to know what to do next. We just went for as long as she could handle, and when we checked in at a few minutes to 3, our passes would be good the next day (but we convinced them to write on them for Friday). We can head back and check out more.

How does this phone work?

We happened upon catching a tug boat with 13 barges heading upstream. It was a great photography opportunity.

With all the rain, the Mississippi River is at its banks in Cassville. The boat landing and part of the parking lot were under water.

On the way home, we ran into buggies of Amish Children heading home from school, farmers bringing in the harvest and more questions and lessons about the area we live.

Total Cost: $14.75 and 19 miles from home.

Becca Seeing Peter Facinelli from Twilight at the Benefit for Pediatric Cancer

2010-09-29T06:48:00.000-07:00

Being short often means having trouble seeing over a crowd. But as long as Dad is around, she always has the best view in the house.

After oversleeping because she stayed up all night because she couldn't wait to head out, Becca awoke in a panic at 10:30. We assured her the lines were way long already and why rush to just be at the end of the line. But the Twilight obsessed Becca had to leave immediately.

I complained about the hefty $25 an autograph and $40 picture fee, but was embarrassed for complaining when I found out where the money went. Becca for the first four years had an undiagnosed blood disorder which we now realize was JMML a leukemia, and my niece Maggie survived Neuroblastoma.

The day and money was well spent, and Becca has memories that will last a lifetime. A bright moment to carry her through the tough stuff.

Totsy--My Bands Medic Alert and Childrens ID USB Flash Drive Rubber Bracelets 50% off

2010-09-20T19:01:00.000-07:00

I had been eyeing these for Becca. They are available beginning now for four days through Totsy, a Children's Invitation only site for 50% off. Regularly $29.99 on sale for $14.99.....

They have not just medic alert bracelets but also kids ID bracelets.

More Toys R Us Toy Deals--$8.96 for 3 TAG Jr. Books and 3 Games

2010-09-19T15:23:00.000-07:00

Deal Scenario #1:
Buy 3 Monopoly and/or Sorry Games on sale for $7.99 each
Minus buy 2 get 1 FREE sale = $15.98 for all 3
Use 3 $4/1 coupons found here

Buy 3 LeapFrog Tag Junior books $10.99 each
Minus buy 2 get 1 FREE sale = $21.98 for all 3
Use 3 $4/1 coupons found here or here or in the 9/19 SS

Subtotal $13.96 ($37.96 before coupons to qualify to use the $5.00/$25.00)

Use $5.00/$25.00 Coupon from my previous post
Pay $8.96 for 3 Games and 3 Tag Jr. Books Savings $47.98

New -Leapster Explorer Deals--Toys R Us and Target

2010-09-19T14:52:00.000-07:00

We already bought the New Leapster Explorer and with this deal I will be stocking
up on the games.

Target
Leapster Explorer Tinkerbell is on sale for $17.00
Use $5.00 Leapster coupon from todays paper -$5.00
Pay $12.00 Savings $12.99

Toys R Us

Leapfrog is all Buy Two Get One Free
Buy 3 New Leapster Explorer Games 3 @ $24.99 = $74.97
Register will take off -$24.99
Total $49.97
Use - $5 off $25.00 Toys R Us Coupon (link on my previous post)
Use 3 @ $5.00 off LP Leapster mfg. Coupons (if they let you)
Pay $29.97 for 3 Leapster Explorer Games Savings $45.00

Toys r Us--Toy Deals

2010-09-19T10:39:00.000-07:00

This week with may be time to stock up for Christmas with using the $5.00 off $25.00 coupon good through 9-26-10. Read the coupon for directions... including one coupon per customer.
But that is solved by using cash and going shopping with a shopping buddy...or two... or three.
Or going back another day or two or three if you live close.

Combine it with the Buy 2 Get 1 Free Toys Deals through several popular toys.

I bought 6 Toddler Thomas Train Toys @ $7.99 6 @ $7.99= $47.94
These Chunky Wooden Thomas Trains are on Price Cut from $9.99--saving $6.00 more
(2 Sets of Thomas B2G1F) Computer Takes off 2 @ $7.99 = $15.98
Use $5.00 off $25.00
Pay $26.95 (50% savings off retail)

Another Scenario
Buy 3 of one brand of toy @ $5.99 = $17.97
Buy 3 of one brand of toy @ $5.99 = $17.97
Treat yourself to a Soda or buy a filler item to get your total after free toys $1.59
Total $37.53
Computer subtracts 2 toys at @$5.99 = $11.98
Subtotal $25.55
Use $5 off of $25.00
Pay $20.55

We also ran a couple of B2G1 Free Lego sets with the $5.00/$25.00 to get started on Christmas shopping. The Calico Corners Animal Sets are seldom on sale I got 3 of the $24.99 furniture sets, B2G1 Free, used the $5.00/$25.00 and paid $44.98 for all three, saving $29.99. I now have jumped started my Christmas shopping and the new toys for Christmas are in stock.

Late September is my favorite time to shop for Kids Toys as they are freshly out and on the shelves. Toys r Us is jumpstarting the season with this incredible deal.

Back to School

2010-09-07T07:12:00.000-07:00

It's was Labor Day and we jump started school... The advantage of schooling at home is we can double team it. Dad does some lessons when he has time and I to the rest. Having Dad doing school is a special bonding time for both of them, while giving me a breather to do something else.

Becca and Dad are both sporting their school attire... their band t-shirts... like father, like daughter.

IPAD Review by Becca and Brody

2010-09-03T06:58:00.000-07:00

Becca and Brody's Review of the IPAD

No words necessary.....

They were listening and reading the FREE Toy Story Application.

The Grands

2010-08-27T16:14:00.000-07:00

This picture was snapped right before Kristy and Chris left Minneapolis for their new home near Boston.

The Grands... Kasja, Mahala and Brody.

August Pic--The Tiny Titan turned 21

2010-08-24T10:10:00.000-07:00

Becca 21

Here is the latest picture of our Miss Becca, aka the Tiny Titan.
She is amazing and turned 21 on the 3rd of August. Becca has Noonan Syndrome and outlived her prognosis that she would never see 1. She is our miracle....

Her styling outfit... Coach purse $79.99, 50% off the clearance price and a 30% off coupon,
Aeropostle size 00 Short Jeans $9.99 less coupon of $10/$50, Buy One Get One Free Tank,
DKNY Blazer orig. $79.99, bought 70% off clearance for $11.99 and Sunglasses for $4.00. Earrings from Justice for $1.99. Becca knows how to shop and has turned into a name-brand shopper for little money. Buying classy, named brand needn't cost a fortune.

Summer Clearance-- Step 2 Water Table $21.00 at Walmart

2010-08-24T06:29:00.000-07:00

August brings back to school shopping, but it is also the perfect time to stock up for next summer's fun. Normally beginning late August the summer fun toys, pool fun and picnic
products will begin to hit 50% and about two weeks later 75% off. I never need to buy at the beginning of the season, because we as always planned and shopped ahead by buying season closeouts.

I found this Step 2 Water Wheel Activity Table on clearance at our Walmart Store for $21.00. Whilebig people watch older ones at poolside I figured it is the perfect toy for the wee ones to get wet and play at the same time. It retails for $39.99 to $42.99 at most stores making it a savings of almost 50%.

Summer is nearly gone... and so are the backpacks!

2010-08-23T09:38:00.001-07:00

Picture: Morgan Becca's Service Dog is used to riding in a backpack and she thought she was helping.

I should have known better than saying what I am not going to do...
I had planned on for the first time in 9 years, I was not doing backpacks. But never say never, as God will have other ideas of what we are supposed to do.

I had been gone much of April, all of May, and early June. Then gone for two weeks of July, then the first week of August, and only have been home 4 of the weekends since April.

But we were asked to do it anyway.... With help from the Grant Regional Hospital, partnering with Grant County Social Services for finding the families of children needing help, and an East Dubuque Girl Scout troop helping stuff them...

148 children are beginning school with New Backpacks filled with School supplies.

Backpacks

Detamara the veteran backpack packer is on the job.

6000 Backpacks in 9 years paid-it-forward.

Inspiration from my email---May you be blessed

2010-07-26T06:41:00.000-07:00

May you be blessed.... An inspiration found in my email this morning. My prayer for you.

Happy Birthday Mahala--- 7/22 Remembering a Miracle

2010-07-21T19:55:00.000-07:00

Happy First Birthday to my granddaughter Mahala.

Last July 22, 2009 we found out she was a miracle. Click the link to read about the miracle. But not just one miracle, but two. Kristy went into septic shock a couple of weeks later and spent days in the ICU due to complications of her ruptured uterus. But it is now a distant memory, but today I thank God once again for the miracles saving my daughter and granddaughter.

She is a busy one and has a mind of her own, but like her Aunt Becca they had to be strong.....

One Major Project Done

2010-07-21T18:12:00.000-07:00

Detamara asks "Why do I belly flop?" I snapped this picture to explain to my visual learner. Her response... I look like I am flying! Mom's response, "You need to keep your legs together and not fly or you splat!".

We are enjoying our hot summer and the pool is perfect for Becca at 85 degrees without a heater. Much better than last summer as we barely swam as it was way too cold.

I wish I had taken a picture of the pool before we replaced the 12 year-old liner. But this one will have to do. We knew we needed to when we bought the house, but it lasted an 2 years. Before........

After.... and $4600.00 later. Doing some of the work ourselves we saved over $1500.00 on installation by pumping out and removing the liner ourselves.

I spent Saturday using my new favorite household gadget, a Pressure Washer. I washed the old concrete and cleaned up the deck to spruce up the pool area to match the new liner and it is amazing how good it all looks.

Target Dollar Spot--A Homeschoolers Resource

2010-07-19T08:25:00.000-07:00

Along with getting 150 to 200 kids ready for school through our Backpacks for Kids project, I have to think about what we need at home as I am a homeschooling mom.

This year we have the privilege of doing child care for Serena everyday after school. Becca has a job and I get to teach.

I am a fan of the Dollar Spot at Target and found it stocked for back-to-school and bought $1 items that will be used homeschooling my two girls and teaching Serena.

Alphabet stickers, 5 pack of Praise stamps, workbooks, and Early reading books Levels 1, 2 and 3 (Books like this can cost $5.95) and my best find $1 Teacher Planner (bought 2 one for this year and one for next).

Days of the week notes, Things to do lists (I use these each day with my girls so they can check off their work both school and chores), and a bunch of craft supplies for Serena. I had hit the 50% off and bought Toy Story crayons, pencils, markers and Hello Kitty pencils and 4 pack stampers for added fun.

I hit it a week ago, and hurry as these items sell fast!

Mom's New Shoes : Kohls-- Sketchers Shape-ups Deal $79.99, $67.99 with an extra 15% using your charge

2010-07-16T07:27:00.000-07:00

Sketchers Shape-ups are on SALE $79.99 (Reg. $109.99) Savings of $30.00 or 28%

Use your Kohls charge and save 15% or more up to 30%.

Printed on the cover of a recent mailer is a Kohls.com Promo Code. Simply enter this Promo Code when you checkout with your Kohl's Charge, and you could save 30%, 20% or 15% off your merchandise total.*

Don't have your Kohl's Charge mailer handy?

No problem — there's no Promo Code required! Just checkout with your Kohl's Charge Card, and we'll automatically deduct an EXTRA 15% Off your merchandise total!*

Don't want to use a Kohls charge... spend $100.00 and get 15% off using code EBT15BTS (till 7-18)

Spend $75.00 or more and get FREE Shipping with using code GETFREE75.

Remember to go in through Ebates and get a 4% rebate.

I managed to get mine with a 30% off code for a mire $55.99! I wear mine all the time as they stabilize my bad leg because of the way I walk with them is changed. They are amazing and I needed a second pair for wearing in the house while working.

I just added a few items and bought 2-- 1/2 price children's bath wraps for $14.99 with matching bath mits for $3.99 to get my total over $75.00 to get the free shipping.... my total with tax for everything $85.00 :)

God's Email

2010-07-15T21:22:00.000-07:00

From my email box today and it was meant to be shared..

From: GOD
To: All Those Who believe in Me
Subject: Life's Problems

Good Morning.
I am GOD.
Today I will be handling all of your problems.
Please remember that I do not need your help.
If the Devil happens to bring you a situation that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it.
Kindly put in into the SFGTD (Something for God to Do) box where it will be addressed in MY time, not yours.
Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold on to it or remove it.
Holding on or removing it will delay the resolution to your problem.
If it is a situation that you think you aqree capable of handling, please consult me in prayer to be sure that you have arrived at the proper resolution.
If you need to contact Me, I am only a prayer away.

Cousins Meet

2010-07-15T20:48:00.000-07:00

Kasja has "her" baby.... Baby Brody was her baby. (Kasja 27 mos. Brody almost 3 mos.)

We had the gift of being invited to a lake home Kristy and Chris rented in Minnesota. Nathan, Stacey and Brody came up for a long weekend and the cousins got to meet for the first time. It was amazing to have my three grandchildren together and spend time with family and friends.

Brody and Nate at the beach.

Mahala (11 mos.) didn't leave much for Jesse to eat.

Thank you to Kristy, Chris and girls for sharing your vacation and the gift of time with family and friends.

We love you. Have a safe trip to your new home in Boston. We will miss you :(
Mom, Dad, Becca and Detamara

Little Tikes Christmas in July Sale-- Cozy Push and Ride and Classic Dollhouse 73% off

2010-07-15T09:25:00.000-07:00

Little Tikes Christmas in July Sale.

This Cozy Push and Ride Car
Reg. $69.99 for $29.99 (73% off) Savings $40.00!!!!

Little Tikes Classic Dollhouse
Reg. $139.99 Sale Price $59.99 (73% off) Savings $80.00!!!!

Save 10% off an order of $50.00+
Use Coupon Code LTPS1020 (Exp. 12/31/2010)
Little Tikes is offering FREE Shipping on Order of $149.99 or more.

Remember to go in through Ebates and get a 3% Rebate.

Eighteen Next Month

2010-07-14T07:02:00.000-07:00

Who would have believed that thirteen years would fly by so fast? The youngest of the Sib set of 5 will turn 18 in August.

She has come so unbelievably far...

She is the example that some kids can move on from their traumatic histories to be able to trust....

This was the same 4 year-old the social workers gave us 9 months to return to the system because of her being unmanageable... I knew she had a chance ... I could see it in her eyes.

Younkers--60% off the Clearance Yellow Dot I Hit the Jackpot!

2010-07-13T21:07:00.001-07:00

Today I stopped by Younkers (my favorite place to find name-brand clothing at bargain prices).
My favorite cashier tells me that they were swamped with markdowns. Almost everything summer in the kids departments was now on Yellow dot, but yet to be marked down.

I grabbed many of the Addidas, Columbia, Oshkosh, and Carter items I have been watching and headed to the register. She was right, it was ringing up 60% off the clearance prices. Making
most of my purchases between 70 to 80 percent off! Some of the items hadn't even taken the first markdown and I got first pick of the 60 percent off the clearance on many items :)

Mixing and matching the bright Addidas Toddler Girl and 4-6x Girl Items and buying ahead, these items are basics and they won't date. I stocked up on 3 piece Carter pajama sets for $5.00. I even found $48.00 Columbia Little Boy Jackets for $10.00 and 2 piece Puma and Addias Jacket and Pants Set for $10.00 each.

Our store had a center table filled with Calvin Klein girls bras and undies for $.99 each instead of $16.00 for a bra and 6.00 for the undies. They had thick print tights for only $.99 each and I bought out the 3 packs of Hannah Montana and High School Musical Girls Underwear for $.99 a pack for the Backpack Project.

Carter Christmas baby dolls for $.99 will be donated to the Toys for Tots program and the mini Ty stuffed Christmas animals and snowmen will garnish my Christmas gifts for $.99 each.

I had a blast and once again Younkers won my clearance shopping monies because of their fantastic clearance sales and quality items.

Backpacks for Kids Press Release

2010-07-13T20:33:00.000-07:00

Backpacks for Kids 2010
Press Release: July 14, 2010

With Back to School just around the corner, the Yurcek family is once again on a mission, to give foster children and other needy children a head start for school. This year Grant County Wisconsin Program will serve about 200 children with new backpacks and boxes of school supplies to differing sites throughout the county. In the past eight years nearly 5,000 children have been given a hand up for the start of school due to the generosity of others and the Yurcek kids.

The Yurcek's knew what it meant to be without years earlier, when the Becca the youngest was a critically ill baby, the oldest four children started school due to the generosity of others. Several years later the Yurcek family grew when they reunited and adopted five siblings separated in foster care. The older adopted children remembered what it was like to head back to school from the homeless shelters empty handed.

Ann Yurcek was speaking to a group of foster and adoptive parents and the family learned about a group of foster children in Detroit who had just received 500 empty backpacks. On the trip home the children spent the three-hour trek planning on how to raise money to help fill those backpacks, as they knew what it was to be without. In less than l0 days, the childrens’ pop cans, lemonade stand, garage sale and door-to-door flyers helped fill over 100 backpacks with supplies. It was just their way of paying it forward.

Returning to Detroit, the children shared their dream of helping in Kalamazoo the next year. The foster care group gave the Yurceks 91 backpacks to help homeless children just in time for school. Backpacks for Kids was born. The project grew, and engaged the community to care. The Yurcek's Backpacks for Kids program has gained National Attention when it won the Disney All Stars Volunteer Team Award in 2004, and was featured in People Magazine in November 2005 for Small Angels, Kids Who Care. It was shared in a December 2006 Feature Story on Madison TV along with A Christmas Miracle and many news stories over the seven years of the programs existence.

But the Backpack Program is far from done even though the family now lives in Lancaster, Wisconsin for the past two years. Three years ago the Yurcek family left the Backpack Program in good hands as Kalamazoo families who have helped in the program carry the mission forward along with several other programs to fulfill the needs. In Lancaster the program is growing and Backpacks for Kids is partnering with Grant County Social Services, Grant Regional Hospital, community organizations, and others to help Grant County Foster Families and families in need have new school supply stuffed backpacks for the start of school.

The Yurcek family story and the backpack chapter is chronicled in a 2006 published book, Tiny Titan, Journey of Hope. The story of a family who lost everything when their youngest daughter Becca was born with a severe form of Noonan Syndrome. With six children, one of them a dying baby, the family struggled against poverty, catastrophic medical bills and the despair faced by many families with terminally ill children. The Yurceks learned from the Tiny Titan to never give up and due to the Angels in their lives, they moved forward. Jim returned to school; two years of undergraduate coursework and four years of medical school were supported by delivering newspapers as a family. As the family was moving to Michigan for a general surgery residency they adopted transracially a set of five siblings. The story moves forward through the challenges of their newly adopted children’s attachment issues and the diagnoses of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. The book is the roller coaster of the ups and downs of life of special needs families and miracles.

Tiny Titan Journey of Hope was written to inspire others and to raise awareness of the causes of special needs families, foster and adoptive families and the children they raise.

Tiny Titan, Journey of Hope by Ann Yurcek was recently honored as being selected as a two-time Award winner in the 2007 Mom’s Choice Awards. Tiny Titan, Journey of Hope was a finalist in the categories: Adult: Non-Fiction and the Your Heart Our Hands special category.

Liberty Ridge Media:

Backpacks Again

2010-07-13T18:29:00.000-07:00

Backpacks for Kids 2010 Goal: 200

This year with being gone so much, I hadn't planned on doing the backpack project, but God had other ideas. So for the 9th year, the Yurceks are back raising money, shopping for school supply bargains and engaging the community to send children in need back to school with a new backpack filled with school supplies.

I managed to find Papermate Mechanical Pencils 5 ct. 2 for $.39 at Walgreens and picked up my 6 pencil sharpeners for $.29 each. Kmart has Bic Pens for $.50, and these are good quality pens.

As always we get the questions why so many? We explain and then there is never a problem picking up a quantity of 50 or 30 at a trip. The cashiers now are beginning to remember us, and the phone is ringing. The hospital is once again on board, along with the Platteville Jaycees :)

This year we will be going business to business asking them to sponsor a child for $20 which it
costs for a backpack and supplies.

The need is great everywhere, there are backpack programs across the country. Also the schools funds are often tight, it costs very little to drop off extra pencils, crayons, glue or paper to your child's teacher and they appreciate the help keeping the classroom stocked.

Teaching our kids to care, is one of the greatest gifts we can give them. Create a family project to shop for a child and drop it off in time for school.

It need not cost much, use your bargain hunting skills to make a difference in the life of a needy child.

Four Generations of Yurceks

2010-07-12T20:32:00.000-07:00

We snapped this amazing picture of Four Generations of Yurceks.

Great-Granny and Great-Grandpa Yurcek, Me (Nana) and Doc (Papa), Dad Nathan, Mom Stacey and Baby Broderick Christopher (3 months). Nathan is our oldest son and second oldest of our kids.

Family Fun-- Happy 4th of July

2010-07-02T08:40:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July from our family to yours.

Kristy and Mahala

I decided to post a few summer family fun pictures of our recent trip to Texas to care for the grands. This weekend we will be catching up with them again and we can't wait.

Auntie Detamara sliding with Miss Kasja

Miss Kasja and her favorite thing to do "WEE". She can spot a park blocks away.

Becca sliding with Miss Kasja at Terra Burger in Austin. Gluten-free hamburgers and fries and a WEE. Everyone was thrilled and the little girls were tired out and the big ones from playing with the wee ones.

Have a safe and blessed weekend with your family...
Anny

Kettle Foods-----Gluten-free Response

2010-07-01T15:10:00.000-07:00

More Responses from my First 5-Day Emailing Campaign to contact companies to get coupons and raise awareness on Gluten-free eating....

"Kettle Brand® Potato Chips (including our Kettle Brand® Baked, Organic, and Krinkle Cut™ Potato Chips) are gluten free and processed in a gluten free environment."

"Our other products (Kettle Brand® Tortilla Chips, and Kettle Brand® Roaster Fresh® Nut Butters) are made in a facility separate from our potato chips, and are processed on equipment shared with ingredients that contain very small amounts of wheat. The gluten is in our Kettle Brand® Multi Grain Tortilla Chip flavor and a few of our Kettle Brand® Roaster Fresh® Trail Mixes."

"We thoroughly clean our lines after each flavor run, but there is a slight potential of cross contamination with tortilla chips and nut products. For your convenience we do list all ingredients on the packaging."

Emailing Companies for Coupons and Raising Gluten-free Awarness

2010-07-01T13:37:00.001-07:00

I joined the 5 A Day at Couponing to Disney

Couponing to Disney has a 5 a day to email companies and get coupons for products. I joined her campaign and today began emailing her 5 a day list. She posts 5 companies each day Monday through Friday on her blog making it easy. While Emailing Progresso I thanked the company for their commitment to offering some of their soups Gluten-free.

I realized that this was not just an opportunity to get coupons, but to raise awareness on
eating Gluten-free. I emailed Jennie-O and received an email with a PDF of all Hormel Foods Gluten-free Products!

Hormel Foods Gluten-free List for Hormel Products, Jennie-O , Chi Chi, Lloyds,, Spam Products, Dinty Moore, Valley Fresh Chunk Meats, La Victoria. Going through the list I happily discovered several shelf stable products that now have gone Gluten-free including Dinty Moore Beef and Chicken Stew.

As I find lists of Gluten-free Resources I will keep them updated on my blog .

Crazy 8-- Kids Jeans $6.99

2010-06-30T07:09:00.000-07:00

Children's Jeans $6.99

The kids are out of school and we are all into summer. But this is the best time to start our Back to School shopping.

Crazy 8 has many jeans for $6.99 a pair and earn Crazy bucks for later shopping.

I was surprised by the many styles and washes available in Toddler to Children's sizes. Picking up jeans for this price is absolutely AMAZING!

I managed to stock up on jeans and getting 14 pairs of jeans (3-Size 3T, 4-Size 4, 3-Size 5, 4-Size 6) for $95.00 plus shipping and tax and earning $40.00 in Crazy Cash for fall shopping and future needs as jeans never date.

Babies R Us--Clearance Clothing Buy One Get One Free

2010-06-21T12:07:00.000-07:00

Babies R Us Buy One Get One Free Clearance Clothing
Spend $49.00 or more and get Free Shipping.
Click to get details of this special. Valid until 7/10/10

Happy Fathers Day Doc

2010-06-18T07:27:00.000-07:00

Doc and Becca at the Irish Festival
Harriet Island, St. Paul, MN

Happy Fathers Day. This is my favorite picture of Doc. Doing what he and Becca love best. Listening to music. But picture this picture stands has symbolic meaning for me...

I title this picture.... She ain't heavy, she's my daughter.

He stood by our family through crisis, he defied the odds to better himself and our family, standing out as a role model for all our children. His humor, his patience and his strength when he had to back Mom up when a strong minded child tested their limits. But as he will tell anyone, he doesn't have it tough, Becca is tough. He will do anything for his children.

I wrote my fathers day tribute on Special Children's website earlier this week.

But to Doc (Jim my husband) I thank you for being an amazing father to our 11 kids, our furry family and the extras that have tagged along.

We love you,
Ann and the Kids

PS: Wonder why I call him Doc instead of Jim? Around here, calling him by his first name in a small rural town invokes a blank reaction or stares as they don't think Doc has a first name, or it is disrespectful to call a Doctor by his first name. So I have just started calling him Doc and now it is stuck as his nickname. Everyone of the kids has a host of nicknames coined by Doc so it is appropriate he finally has one of his own :)

Walmart Clearance--Independence for a $1.00?

2010-06-15T08:01:00.000-07:00

You never know what you will find on the Walmart Clearance aisle...

This time we found independence...

For a $1.00?

Becca cannot comb her hair without help because of her elbow contractures and her hand deformities combined with lack of muscle strength. Thanks to a trip down the clearance aisle at Walmart she can finally reach to comb her hair in the back. I am sure that at times I will still have to help but at least she can do some the daily care hair care by herself at long last.

This comb is by a company called Etac--for over 30 year this company has been creating products that help empower people with unique physical circumstances.

Special needs equipment is always expensive and most always it costs mega $$$. But not this time.

Found this in my email today...

2010-06-11T14:41:00.000-07:00

My Oldest Daughter Kristy and this Mom

Kristy hired a photographer when we were in Texas and some of the pictures are now back. Today I found an email with a note... and this photo. I hate pictures of myself, but this is not too bad except for the 15 pounds 50 put on definitely bothers me.

Twilight Fans-- Read Stephanie Meyers Newest book for FREE

2010-06-08T20:34:00.000-07:00

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyer

Stephanie Meyers newest book was released on June 5, and here is your chance to read it for FREE. It is available for reading beginning June 7 at Noon until July 5th.

Becca has read all her books at least 4 times and she is already devouring this one.

What Do You Get After Being Gone for Six Weeks?

2010-06-08T15:30:00.000-07:00

Empty Coupon Binders

I purged my coupon binders of expired coupons today. They have never looked so empty!

I use two binders... one for food products, the other for everything else.

Back From Texas

2010-06-08T09:50:00.000-07:00

Mahala and this Nana

I just spent 6 weeks in heaven... I mean Texas taking care of Kristy's two little ones...Kasja and Mahala. (Kasja was 2 in March and Mahala will be 1 in July). I was blessed to be able to spend 6 weeks playing nanny to Nana's girls.

Becca and Detamara had a 6 week hands on Child Development Course and Detamara had an added job of being a Dog Walker to the grand-dogs Jesse and Leto along with Becca's Morgan.

Pampers Wipes 72 Count Tub--FREE

2010-06-08T08:02:00.000-07:00

Check your P and G insert from Sunday's paper for a $2.00 coupon on any 60 count or more Pampers wipes.

Our small town paper had the coupon and I was able to acquire 10 coupons which I used at Walmart which has them for $1.97 on price-cut. Need more coupons, check ebay or any of the coupon selling sites like... The Coupon Clippers or CouponDede.com.

10 FREE Wipes.

I use wipes in cleaning, I keep them in the car for traveling and spills, and the grands.

My favorite wipes hint...
After cleaning the bathroom sinks, vanities etc. use a baby wipe to collect the loose hair, lint and it shines them while taking off the film of the soapy water.

Anyone have any other creative uses for FREE baby wipes?

The Newest Yurcek-- Broderick Christopher

2010-05-09T19:37:00.000-07:00

The Newest Yurcek

Nathan's baby Brody

An Honor To Be Your Mother

2010-05-09T07:32:00.000-07:00

Thank you to my children for the gift of being your Mother. I am so proud of each and every one of you. I love you all.

Love,
Mom

Texas--With Nana's Girls

2010-04-28T21:39:00.000-07:00

If you haven't noticed I have been missing in action....

Saturday the girls and I flew out to Texas to take care of Nana's girls while Mom and Dad (Kristy and Chris) are at work for 6 weeks! This Nana is getting used to the routine of chasing after two little ones--a two year-old and a 9 month old now mobile little girls. Becca is earning credit for her child care class and is a pro at this toddler watching game. Detamara had no idea what to do and was afraid of the little ones. She has moved to retreiving a moving toddler and has even managed to handle a bottle!

Detamara is doing a great job dog sitting for Jesse and Leto and Becca's Morgan. She only got lost once walking the dogs and managed to make it back home all on her own.

Chris is taking up the role of playing Culinary Arts Teacher with Becca for her credit. Detamara joined in and they made Sweet Potatoes with rosemary and olive oil on the grill, with both Teriyaki and Barbeque Boneless Chicken on the Grill, with Steamed Fresh Brussell Sprouts brushed with Blue Cheese and an amazing Fresh Blackberry-Strawberry Fruit Cup with Whipped Cream Topping sprinkled with Brown Sugar. Chris had the girls cooking and totally engrossed with his lessons and Dinner was amazing!

Today I had the greatest birthday as I listened to little Kasja singing "Haapy Haappy Nana, Haappy Haappy Nana" several times today. This is a gift of a lifetime being able to spend this much time with Nana's girls.

I said I as bored, and then ....

2010-04-22T22:17:00.001-07:00

For the last couple of months, I was bored. I should have kept my mouth quiet. You know the saying.. You should be careful what you ask for? Well... I haven't had time to blog or even bargain hunt or even garage sale...

Why the desserted blog?

I Focused on Becca's schooling, IEP's, Documention, Filing Complaints ... all Becca and I both got was frustration.
I was trying to save money, and my stockpile and freezers didn't require any shopping.
We ran up and back and then up and back to head up to Minneapolis to hang out with the New Parents and baby Brody.
I Found out that the girls and I get to spend 6 weeks playing Nana to Kasja and Mahala while Kristy and Chris are at work.
I Finally figured out why I am so tired lately, my asthma was not letting me breathe, and now that the Prednisone kicked in today I have plenty of energy to pack and clean the house for Doc who will be staying home working and taking care of the animals.
Everything I tried to do became complicated, and took ten times longer that it should have or required disaster control.
We finished up our homestudy.
I gave up junk food and I will get exercise and hopefully will lose 10 pounds from non-stop chasing a running toddler and a very fast creeper in the next 6 weeks.

I will post when I can and will be sharing our time with Nana's girls.

Auntie Becca

2010-04-16T21:12:00.000-07:00

Proud Auntie Becca and Nephew Brody
Broderick Christopher Yurcek, aka...Paddles....Dinosaur

The Newest Member of the Family--Broderick Christopher Yurcek

2010-04-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

The First Family Picture--Our Son Nathan now a Dad

Yesterday 4-11, we received a phone call from Nathan saying Stacey's water had broken and it time for us to head up to the Twin Cities for the impending arrival of Paddles. Nothing is never simple when it comes to a Yurcek, he had a mind of his own and flipped becoming breach.

We were in Rochester an hour and a half out of the Twin Cities when Nathan called, I pulled off the highway into the nearest parking lot, which appropriately was Target to get all the particulars.

Broderick Christopher Yurcek arrived at 5:12 pm 7 pounds 5 ounces, 21 1/2 inches long, 13 3/4 cm head (our kids always have big heads) and totally healthy.

As I was already at Target, I couldn't pass up on the opportunity to check it out. WITHOUT any coupons in hand I was in a Super Target. In the hurry to leave home, I forgot my coupon tote and binders!!!! I managed to still find some deals...

Then to the hospital to meet the newest Yurcek and

Nana's Girls

2010-04-08T09:32:00.001-07:00

Monday Morning Back to Work and Traffic?

2010-04-05T06:28:00.000-07:00

My sister teases me about our small town existence and I thought I would play along with this Monday morning post. I love living in our corner of Wisconsin, surrounded by the rolling hills and the hard working Amish whose committment to living simply and loving God is inspirational.

Garage Sale Season--My Find of the Week

2010-04-05T06:09:00.001-07:00

Friday I headed out to the tiny community of Bloomington to hit up a couple of Good Friday garage sales. When most people think of Garage sales we seldom think "Brand New". Over the years I have found many new items with tags for a fraction of the price.

My find of the day: $2.00 (originally $19.99 on the tag)
This 60 x 104" New tablecloth from Target! With my cranberry and green theme and long table it will be put to use. I already have the the table runner, oval table cloth (the porch table) and a placemat from this set bought a couple of years ago from Christmas clearance.

Happy Easter--Ian Stopped by for Dinner and Shopping at Mom's Mini Superstore

2010-04-04T15:13:00.001-07:00

Ian stopped by on his way home from visiting his brothers in Minneapolis for the long weekend. He and his work friend ride split gas and shared the long trip from Michigan to Minnesota. They stopped by for a Easter home cooked Turkey dinner and a break from driving. We got to spend two hours with our son. Thank you Ian for time with you.

Before leaving, Ian stocked up in Mom's mini-superstore as each of the kids do when they make it home. One of my advantages of my being bored, double coupons, rolling rewards and being an avid couponer to help my grown kids who work extremely hard save some money and time.

Doc became the shopping cart and was all proud that his kids can go shopping at our house. These are also the first time any one has had any sneak peeks of Mom's Mini-Superstore.

Someday I will post real pictures of my stockroom in its entirety. Doc and I just were having a debate on how many bookcases and shelving units the room held. He thought 13, I said 20, but it is l9 including the big double sized wire rack full which holds oversized goods.

Kmart--Buy $25 in P&G Products, Get $10 Prepaid Mastercard by Mail

2010-04-03T10:50:00.000-07:00

Beginning Sunday 4-4, buy $25.00 worth of Proctor and Gamble Products and Get a $10.00 Prepaid Master Card.

With Double coupons and my store doubling and the Proctor and Gamble insert in our local paper from Thursday I will have fun with this one.

If your Kmart is doubling for Kmart Rewards Members, limit 5 coupons per day, one of a kind.

Spring Daffodils. Have a Blessed Easter Weekend.

2010-04-02T18:03:00.000-07:00

Have a Blessed Easter from Our Family to Yours.
Anny

These Daffodils were so beautiful. We took this picture in home school photography class today while we were out exploring the rolling hills of SW Wisconsin.

Wooden Swingsets--Save Money and Build Memories

2010-04-02T07:55:00.000-07:00

With the onset of Spring weather, its time to get the kids outside. Becca, Detamara with adult help and supervision picked out this massive swingset project for their home/school construction project. We posted on the blog working on our project. But had never posted the conclusion as it was just beginning snowing as we finished up. Pictures of the project are posted here.

If you noticed we also have a Little Tikes Commercial Play system bought for $700. We have to install its curved slide this weekend. Our yard is a kid magnet and Detamara was found doing her schoolwork in the tower the other day enjoying spring or Becca can be found training her dogs on their massive agility course. It is a riot to see tiny Morgan sliding on command!

To buy a pre-built set would cost major money and would not have as many activities as this kit we found at Menards from Playstar Inc.. The instructions on our kit were very easy to follow, and with spreading out the work over a couple of weeks, it was not too overwhelming for the girls and I to do mostly ourselves. But when we needed instructions or muscles, Doc (Dad) was out there helping us learn.

Of course the project was not just the kit, it added an extra swing bar to add "bigger swings and activities" and we found a "bargain" tic-tac-toe board which we had to figure out how to implement into the side wall of the smaller tower.

Total Cost $2300.00 and hours of family building memories time. Savings... we guess about $2000+ or more than a larger Rainbow Play System Set. When we started looking, we had the amount in the budget for buying a Small Rainbow set or less. With Becca any project has to be big and she wanted to show the schools that she is capable with help.

The Smaller Swing Bar and Tower for the younger set. This is where the girls put their prized bargain Tic-Tac-Toe game. Under the tower because we were on a hill, we had to add an extra 2-6 to the sandbox and a wooden floor to hold the sand in.

The Larger Tower and the Monkey Rings, and Big Slide. (we still have to finish the base support.) We decided to add a wooden floor under the Big Tower to have a floor under the picnic table.

We added an extra taller swing bar with the extra space, a commercial baby swing, commercial Toddler 1/2 bucket swing, a Buoy Ball and one more swing (we need to get longer chains as the bar is higher than we predicted.

We have just a couple of small things to finish up and two major steps. Staining and sealing the set and putting in landscape timbers with a load of wood chips for cushion under the structure.

Autism Awareness Day-Becca Reminds You to Wear Blue

2010-04-02T05:37:00.000-07:00

Becca and I were watching the Early Show this morning and they were talking about Autism. They talking with a Mom who has been advocating for their child for a decade, when Becca touted that you've been advocating for me for two decades. Thank you Mom. No Thank you Becca for teaching me.

Becca has both Noonan Syndrome and autism spectrum disorder and reminds everyone to wear blue to raise awareness on Autism. Heading to my facebook, I discovered that Matt, Becca's brother to wear blue.

PS: Becca may not appreciate me with this goofy face picture, but I chose it to show that she has learned to have fun and not always be so serious. Becca and her pack...Milo and Morgan.

More Pictures--Mahala is Crawling

2010-03-29T17:55:00.000-07:00

She sure looks like she is up to something!
Photographic Credit: Todd McKimmey

Free Kid's Classic Music Downloads

2010-03-29T08:32:00.000-07:00

Musical Soup is offering 50+ Classic Mozart songs for children on their website available for free download. Check them out here. Mozart Wombsong Collection and Mozart Toddlers Collection are both FREE. I will be downloading them onto one of the inexpensive MP3 Players I bought the day after Thanksgiving to share with the grands.

Thank you Money Saving Mom for this find!

Becca's Pay it Forward--Hasbro Games or Childrens Movies for Your Children's Hospital

2010-03-28T05:01:00.000-07:00

Becca's Pay it Forward to Get Games and Children's Movies to local Children's Hospital's.
Meet Becca

Can you help?

What can we do with all the great Games we have been finding lately

Use the game and Disney Children's Movie Deals Pay it Forward. Check out this weeks post for for some amazing game deals for charity.

Becca has spent way too much time in her 20 years at the Children's Hospitals. The games and movies were her constant companions when things were tough.

What will we do with all these amazing card games and board games and Children's Movie Deals? With using our coupons, rebates, even gift cards we can find some amazing deals and why not pick up an extra set along with Becca.

Pick them up and drop them off at your local Children's Hospital in honor of our special kids. Or another idea....drop them off at your local Boys and Girls club chapter to help even more children. Detamara's idea.

Becca has been struggling lately, sick and even more sick and tired of trying to explain to the schools just how hard it is to be Becca. She is working on something positive and also fulfill her volunteer high school graduation requirements by organizing the campaign.

Please consider helping these amazing places who help so many children's lives but also you help yourself feel good by making difference.

Post back and let us know if you joined her in dropping off games or movies... and Win a Set of 3 Games for a Charity of your local Children's Hospital.

Toys R Us-Hasbro Board Game Deal (3 Games for Free after Rebates and Gift Card)

2010-03-28T04:13:00.000-07:00

Toys R Us Board Game Sale and Deals this week 3/28/10

Buy $20.00 worth of Hasbro Board Games get a $5.00 Toys R Us Gift Card.

You will be able to score amazing deals if you have already printed off the coupons or have any left from the newspaper. Need more games coupons? You can buy some of them at The Coupon Clipper s.

$4.99 ($2.99 after rebate)
Candyland, Cootie, Memory Games, Chutes and Ladders, and Candy land

$8.99 ($5.99 after rebate)
Operation , Twister , Connect 4, and Battle Ship

$12.99
Elefun and Gator Golf ($9.99 after Rebate) Receive Free Elefun Stuffed Friends with Purchase $9.99)

Combine it with the Hasbro Game Coupons for some amazing deals.

Deal Idea 1:
Buy Operation $8.99
Buy Connect 4 $8.99
Buy Twister $8.99
or Buy Monopoly $9.99
Buy a Total of 3
Total 26.97
Use $5.00 Hasbro Operation Game mfg. coupon
Use $4.00 Hasbro Connect 4 Game mfg. coupon
Use $4.00 Hasbro Twister Game mfg. coupon
or Use $5.00 Hasbro Monopoly mfg. coupon
Pay $13.97 for 3 Games
Receive $5.00 Toys R Us Gift Card
Submit for Hasbro Mfg. Rebates 3 @ $3.00 ($9.00)
Net Profit $.03

Deal Idea #2
Buy Elefun or Gator Golf $12.99
Get Elefun Friend for FREE $9.99
Hasbro Operation $8.99
Total $21.98 (including free item $32.97)
Use $5.00 off Hasbro Elefun coupon *if you were lucky enough to print it and it still is good.
Use $5.00 off Hasbro Operation coupon *
Pay $11.98
Receive $5.00 Toys r Us Gift Card
Submit for Hasbro Rebate 2 @ $3.00 ($6.00)
Net Cost $.98

We have a doctors appointment in Madison and we will be stopping by Toys R Us and picking up some games to drop off at our local Children's Hospital. Becca and I have spent too much time in them and it is our way of paying it forward. Join us and doing a Children's Hospital Game Drop!

Kmart--Leapfrog Tag Books $5.99 after coupon beginning 3/28/10

2010-03-27T17:33:00.000-07:00

Kmart has Tag Books on sale for $8.99 each.
Use $3.00 coupon from here
Pay $5.99 each

Or use the price match to match up with the $5.00/$30 Leapfrog coupon at Target and
the Leapfr0g Leapster Game Deal.

Target-Leapfrog Games Deal Beginning Sunday

2010-03-27T10:52:00.000-07:00

Target Leapster Deal Beginning Tomorrow- Sunday 3-28-10

Buy two Leapfrog Games $15 each
Use one $5/$30 Leapfrog Target printable coupon
Use two $5.00/1 Leapfrog Leapster Game mfg. coupon
or
Use two $5/1 Leapfrog Games coupons (Do not print until Sunday as these expire fast)
Pay $15 for two after coupons (Thanks Totally Target!)

Garage Sale Season Begun--My Find of the Day

2010-03-26T13:23:00.000-07:00

My friend Joleen called yesterday to remind me that the tiny village of Louisburg (Louisiana in Detamara's infamy) had their "Citywide" Garage Sales today. I roused Detamara up early and we were off to the tiny hamlet of maybe 20+ homes and a car dealership about 20 miles from home. For the past two years I have launched my garage sale season the last weekend in March. Sometimes in snow, rain, and this year a sunny 23 with a stiff wind that chilled us through.

But the trip was worth it. My find of the day.... This Wooden 26 Count Pottery Barn Block Set. Guess what I had paid... no cheating by blowing up the picture. A amazing 75 cents.

I picked up a stack of button up shirts in size 3T to 5 for Nathan's little paddles (Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Nautica etc. ) for a $1 each and two pairs of designer dress cords to match the 2 designer sweaters. I found a couple of Melissa and Doug sets, Tanagrams and lacing cards for a couple of dollars each.

My second favorite find was a Stainless Steel Stockpot with Glass Lid, they were asking $10, with a little haggling got it for $6 and I now have enough pots when I make freezer meals. Detamara couldn't resist the Cuisinart Egg Cooker in its original package.

Detamara (a city kid) was laughing when we were walking up to one garage being followed by a couple of geese and a pair of farm ducks, as an Amish buggy was pulling in. Just a day in the life of a doctors family in farm country.

What is Becca Up To? Fighting

2010-03-26T08:32:00.000-07:00

Read this story from Terri Mauro at Special Children.about.com

*I have not kept up my blog this week as I am buried--literally buried in her educational records from 20 years of schooling.

Kasja is Two

2010-03-25T07:36:00.000-07:00

Photographic Credit: Todd McKimmey

Repurpose: Clips from Children's Hangers

2010-03-24T08:15:00.000-07:00

Using Children's pants hangers, make the best clips. I started using them a year ago, and I use them almost everyday for many purposes.

Use your kitchen shears and cut it at the beginning of the clip on each side.

Two clips for FREE. I use these on open packages of chips, bulk size frozen foods, stacks of papers that are too big for standard paper clips and even keeping phone cords together while
traveling. They even work as clothespins hanging out clothing. They are locked in place and on windy days they do not pull loose.

The advantage of these over store bought clips, they don't have handles and are much stronger and compact besides they are FREE.

Hint: At our favorite children's department store ask if they have any of these hangers. They often do not reuse them and will be more than happy to give them away!

Target--Monopoly and Connect 4 Games for Toys for Tots

2010-03-21T19:19:00.000-07:00

With the Hasbro coupons from today's paper I was able to get 8 games and 4 My Little Ponies to put away for Toys for Tots.

Monopoly $7.00 less $5.00 coupon, Pay $2.00 each (5) $10.00/5
Connect 4 $7.00 less $4.00 coupon, Pay $3.00 each (3) $9.00/3
My Little Ponies 4 @ $4.99 ($19.96) used 2--BOGF
Cash Register took off --2 x$7.00 for each coupon -$14.00
Paid $5.96 for 4 Ponies

Total $24.96 for all.

Kmart-- 50% off Clearance Toys and $2.99 Winter Pajamas

2010-03-21T11:10:00.000-07:00

I am just back from Kmart doing some early Christmas shopping and picked up a few Toys 50% off the clearance price.

I found Little Tikes camera's, a Little Tikes Gas Pump, Cars Mega Block set with jumbo tub and a baby for the grands. There were many Barbies, Little Pet Shop, Little Pony and Strawberry
Shortcake items.

They also had their winter clearance clothing for $2.99 each and I stocked up on pajamas for both Becca and Detamara.

I didn't pick up any Fisher Price but in my email there was a $10.00 off of $50.00 Fisher Price Kmart Coupon which may be worth printing off. Our store had several larger ticket Fisher Price Learning Toys and the Handy Mandy sets where this coupon will get it discounted further.

Walmart Clearance Finds: Fisher Price Sweet as Me Stroller and High Chair $7.00 Each

2010-03-18T18:32:00.001-07:00

Fisher Price Sweet as Me Stroller and High Chair on clearance at our Walmart
$7.00 each (orig. $25.00 ea)

We ran out to Walmart for a bicycle pump for our Target Schwinn Clearance Bikes for a ride tonight. I found these two Fisher Price items over by the bicycles and had to take a double-take over the prices. I grabbed these for a start on my Christmas shopping and may go back and grab a couple of more to donate to Toys for Tots!

Becca's Best Movie Deal: Toy Story Movies Deal Plus Free Tickets for Toy Story 3

2010-03-17T07:20:00.000-07:00

Even More Disney Movie Deals!

Toy Story and Toy Story 2 are being released 3-23-2010 and here is another Target Deal for you! You will also receive movie cash towards Toy Story 3 (June 18) in each combo pack as well as a Target-exclusive DVD-ROM game. They will be priced at $19.99 from 3-23 to 3-27 with another $10.00 off when you buy both Combo Packs.

Toy Story 3 Movie Trailer

Target

Toy Story Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack--$22.99
Toy Story 2 Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack --$22.99
Total $45.98/2
Get $10 off if you purchase both at Target Discount
Subtotal $35.98
Use 2--$5.00 off each mfg. Toy Story coupons**
or
Use $10.00 off Trade Up Blu-ray Coupon through Disney Rewards if you have them already.
Pay $25.98 plus 2 free movie passes for Toy Story 3
or $15.98 if you have 2--$10.00 off coupons
Total Savings $20.00 or $30.00

**Check back for any Rebates that may come available.

**$5.00 coupon should be available, here: Disney Magical Savings Coupons and Savings on Disney DVD sometime between now and 3/23

We found this posted at A Full Cup and Blu-ray.com and as more information arrives and links we will be keeping the blog updated.

I know where we will be when Target opens on Tuesday! Our store sells out of Blu-ray in just minutes after it opens.

Becca's Best Movie Deal: The Princess and the Frog $.99 after Coupon and Rebates

2010-03-16T13:18:00.001-07:00

The Princess and the Frog DVD for Under $1.00
and Free Band-aids? How?

Just in Case you are need another The Princess and the Frog Movie Deal here's another.

Target:

Buy Princess and the Frog DVD $15.99
Buy 2 Bandaids $1.84
Use $5.00 off mfg. coupon
Use 2--$1.00 off mfg. Band-aid Coupons
Use 2--$1.00 off Target Coupons
Pay $10.99
Submit for 2 Rebates (2 Proof of Purchase Tabs)
Submit for Bandaid Rebate -$5.00
Submit for Frog Tape Rebate -$5.00 * (had to buy it at our hardware store)
Submit for Success Rice Rebate (Buy 2 Success Rice Products to go with)
Pay $0.99 plus tax and the cost of the Frog Painters Tape

*To get this price you have to buy Frog Painters Tape. I am in the process of painting and needed some painters tape anyway.

NEW UPDATE: From Deal Seeking Mom

A Third Rebate will soon be out:
Buy 2 Success Rice Products and The Princess and the Frog
and get a $5.00 rebate.

There will be $1.00/2 Success Rice Coupons coming out also.
If your grocery store doubles like our Piiggly Wiggly I can get cheap rice to go with it.

Newest Video of Nana's Big Girl

2010-03-11T11:58:00.000-08:00

Kristy told me to head to You tube and see the latest video of Princess Kasja. I think this might just be a yogurt commercial in the making. This proud Nana just had to share with family and friends!

Disney Princess Trivia and Princess site with FREE Games and Activities

2010-03-11T11:33:00.001-08:00

The Disney Princess Site
You little princess can interact playing games and activities their favorite princess.
Screensavers, cards, coloring pages, and activities. Along with princess paint, games and other interactive games to keep your little princess busy and all for FREE!

We spent the afternoon researching Disney Princesses and found this Disney Princess Trivia.

Official Princesses:
Ariel
Mulan
Cinderella
Snow White
Jasmine
Aurora
Belle
Pocahontas
Princess Tiana

How many Princes or the Princesses Heroes can you help us name?
Leave a comment and help us compile a list

Becca's Best Movie Giveaway: The Princess and the Frog Blu-Ray Combo Pack

2010-03-11T06:58:00.001-08:00

Becca is giving away a copy of Disney's The Princess and the Frog Blu-Ray Combo Pack.
Meet Becca

To enter leave a comment answering the question: Who is your child's or your favorite Princess and what little princess will this be given to?

To earn an extra entry blog about any post: Becca's Princess Movie Coupon, Deal ( coming 3-14) or Contest and comment back with the link.

Comments are moderated to keep spam away.

Good luck and I hope your little princess gets to win. The entry will be drawn on March 21, 2010 at noon.

And don't forget to check out the movie trailer, print your coupon and find a deal or rebate.

Becca's Best Movie Deal: ThePrincess and the Frog $6.99 after coupons and rebates

2010-03-11T06:48:00.000-08:00

Disney Princess and the Frog
Release: 3-16-2010

Target Deal:

Buy The Princess and the Frog Blu-Ray Combo Pack $26.99
Buy 2 Kids Band-aids $1.84
Use $10.00 off mfg. coupon
Use 2--Target Bandaid coupons
Use 2--$1.00 mfg. coupons
Pay $16.99
Submit for Band-aid Rebate -$5.00
*Submit for Frog Tape Rebate -$5.00
Net Total after Rebates $6.99

*Buy Frog Tape to Submit for the Disney Rebate (I have some painting to do anyway).

Print your $10.00 off Disney's The Princess and the Frog Blu-ray Combo Pack. Will be released next Tuesday March 16, 2010.

Check out the Movie Trailer

Princess and the Frog Rebate $5.00
Purchase The Princess and the Frog Blu-ray or DVD and any roll of FrogTape Multi-Surface (24mm, 36mm, or 48mm).

Princess and the Frog Bandaid Rebate
Buy 2 boxes of Band-Aids and The Princess and The Frog on Blu-ray or DVD to get a $5 rebate! Check out all the details and print the rebate form here. This is a great rebate because it should be pretty simple for you to score FREE Band-Aids. Use the $1.00 off Target Coupon and mfg. coupon to save on the Bandaids to go with the rebate.

We are anxiously awaiting this release. Detamara asked why Disney waited so long for a Black Princess? She wishes they had done it when she was smaller as she would have loved to have Disney princess who looked like her.

Walgreens--Life Saver Jelly Beans $1.00 a pack

2010-03-07T17:03:00.000-08:00

Docs Favorite
With my RR will be FREE!

Lifesaver Jelly beans on sale 2/$4
Use the $1/2 coupon from the Walgreens March Coupon Booklet
Plus, use the new $1/2 coupon from here
Final Cost $1 per bag!

Walgreens-- All 2X Liquid Detergent 20 oz. $.50 after coupons

2010-03-07T16:52:00.000-08:00

I found this extra coupon on the Walgreens site for 3/7-3/13.

All 2X Liquid Detergent $2.50 with coupon
Use $2.00 mfg. coupon
**Walgreens Catalina Printable I got when I did the Purex Deal last week.
or $1.00 mfg. coupon from ??
Pay $.50 or $1.50 each

I will price match the Walgreens Ad at Pamida to use my $1.00 coupons and get more for $.50 each! I won't have to buy laundry detergent for a very long time and either will some of the grown kids.

Walgreens: Buy 2 Gillette Body Wash and 2 Gillette Deodorants for $.49 for all 4

2010-03-07T16:22:00.000-08:00

Pay $.49 for 2 Gillette Deodorant and 2 Gillette Body Wash. I found this deal posted at A full cup and it worked perfectly for me!

Buy 2 Gillette Body wash 12 oz $4.49 ea
Buy 2 Gillette Deo 3 or 4 oz $4.49
Total= $17.96
Less--$4/2 Deodorant/Body Wash Coupon from 2/21 P&G
Less--Use 2 Free Body wash wyb Deodorant from 2/7 P&G (-$8.98)
Register will take off BOGO50% Wags sale (-$4.49) taken off at end
Pay $.49 for all 4 items ($.12 each)

I still have a couple more coupons and will repeat it later this week :)

Target--More Freebies Finds

2010-03-07T15:06:00.000-08:00

Just when I finally got all my finds put away, I found more Freebies to buy. Check out the thorough posting at Attention Target Shoppers for more Free finds.

Target-- Tag Jr. Reader and Easter Book for $22.98

2010-03-07T14:37:00.000-08:00

I bought the Tag Jr. Easter Book and realized the coupon on the book is a Target Coupon (exp. 8-1-10). Combined with a sale and a manufacturer coupon it may be had for a great price.

Right now there is a $5.00 Tag Jr. Coupon at Coupons.com which may be worth printing in case Target puts it on sale this month. Using both coupons will take $10.00 off!

Scenario:

Tag Jr. $34.99
Tag Jr. Easter Book $4.99
Total $39.98
Use $5.00 off $30.00 Target Leapfrog Purchase Coupon
Use $5.00 off Target Tag. Jr. Coupon (off the Easter Book) Target Printable Coupons
Use $5.00 off mfg. Tag Jr. Coupon
Use $2.00 off mg. Tag Jr. Book Coupon
Pay $22.98 for Reader and the Easter Book

Or for just the book:

Tag Jr. Easter book $4.99
Use $2.00 mfg. coupon (exp. 6-30-10 pdf)
Pay $2.99 for Book with Target Tag Jr. Coupon attached.

Found in the Easter Section

My Freebies for the Day--Turning Shopping into an Art and Saving Money

2010-03-07T11:25:00.001-08:00

My Freebies for the Day

Savings: $160.73
Paid: $2.99 + Tax

I rode with Doc to round in our neighboring town and he dropped me off at Walgreens. I began with using Flex money to pick up two transactions of 5 Dayquil each which netted me 2--$10.00RR after spending $14.95 after coupons each. I rolled from there, doing three more transactions with a smiling assistant manager!

My plan needed to be modified because of finding more deals and coupons. Picking up 3 cheese, 3 meat and 2 Oreos (for Doc and Dee) to get the Kraft Reward. Scoring 4 boxes of Post Fruity Pebbles for free and was shocked when I got another $3.00 RR. But I still did alright. Only paying for fillers and my Diet Pepsi as I was done before he got back from visiting patients. Adding in 2 DozenEggs, 4 Glade Sense and Sprays, 4 cans of Mushrooms, 2 Colgate Total, 2 Gillete Body Wash, 2 Gillette Deodorants, and Gerber Baby Food Peaches for baking Gluten-free Peach Yogurt Muffins this afternoon. Total $1.06 and $1.93 at Walgreens.

We then headed over Walmart and picked up $1.00 Glade Candes and Plug-ins using coupons and our FREE Oreo Cakesters, Herbal Essense Shampoo and Free $.25 packages of 3 stretchable gloves to use up my overage and I price matched Walgreens to get lactose free Breyers Ice Cream and 6 Oscar Mayer Deli Chicken. We also used the $1.39 Franks Red Hot Sauce coupons and got 3 larger bottles for $.44 each. I splurged and treated myself to some fresh fruit for breakfast because of saving so much elsewhere!

Stopping by Piggly Wiggly I picked up cheese to add as fillers to get the before coupon total over $25.00 and scored 6 boxes of Honey Nut Chex and a Gallon of Milk.

I had been staying home for the past two months, living out of our pantry. For me turning saving is an art...a challenge... and just to see how far I can stretch out a dollar. Besides with only two kids home I am now bored! I would have never believed that living in rural America I can get this much for FREE.

Happy saving.

Anny

Unbelieveable Cereal Deals: Todays Shopping--10 Boxes for Free and Free Milk

2010-03-07T10:46:00.000-08:00

I rolled a $5.00 RR at Walgreens and got 4 boxes of Gluten-free Fruity Pebbles for FREE and walked away with another $3.00 RR for buying 4 boxes of Post cereal!

I bought 4 Fruity Pebbles@ $1.75 per box = $7.00/4
Less 2--$1.00/2 mfg. coupons
Add in an Easter filler 2/$1.00
Total $6.00
Used $5.00 Register Reward from Kraft Deal
Paid $1.06 including tax
Received a $3.00 RR for buying 4 boxes of Post Cereal

Piggly Wiggly--Doubles up to 5 Coupons on a $25.00 order through 3/23

I bought 6 Gluten-free Honey Nut Chex $2.99 = $17.94
4 large blocks of Medium Cheddar Cheese $10.00/4 (regular $4.49 ea.)
Gallon of Piggly Wiggly Milk $2.79
Tropicana Orange Juice (impulse item--no coupon)
Total $32.72
Less $10.00 off discount when you buy 6 General Mills Cereal
Less 4--$.75 mfg. chex coupons doubled -$6.00
Less 1--$1.00/2 mfg. chex coupon doubled -$2.00
Less -$2.79 FREE milk when you buy 6 General Mills Cereal
Paid $11.94 for 4 Cheese and Orange juice
6 Cereal and Milk for Free

I wasn't sure how this would go so had extra items just in case.

My next two trips will be Monday and Tuesday

6 Cereal and 1 milk and 2 cheese = $25.73
Cereal deal from above
Pay $4.96 for 2 Cheese

Three trips to Piggly Wiggly and One to Walgreens we will have gotten 18 boxes of Various Gluten-free Chex and 4 boxes of Fruity Pebbles and three gallons of milk for FREE.

Becca's Best Movie Deal: Old Dogs $16.99 for Blu-Ray at Target

2010-03-06T22:44:00.001-08:00

Becca found another Disney Movie Deal!

Meet Becca Our Movie Deal Writer and Critic

Tuesday 3/9/10 is the Release of Disney's "Old Dogs". Check out the Movie Trailer.

Target
Sale Price for Old Dog--3 Disc Blu-Ray Combo Pack $26.99
Use this $10 off Disney’s Old Dogs Blu-ray/DVD Combo pack.
Pay $16.99

Don't forget to enter your points at Disney Movie Rewards!

Somehow not intentionally I got two old Dog posts in a row...
Our Old Dog read the previous post!

Meet Detamara's Rescued Dog Holly

2010-03-06T21:48:00.000-08:00

Detamara and Holly

Two summers ago, we acquired a new member of the family. We were helping a friend move and the house that they rented came with an abandoned Yellow Lab/Golden Retreiver named Holly. Her owners had abandoned the house 7 years earlier and left the dog on her own dropping off food into her garage home once a week. My friends family had taken care of her for a year. They were moving and on Saturday we frantically tried to find an open shelter and to no avail. With my friends 5 adopted children, Detamara and Becca (a dog lover) Doc knew that we had no choice but pick her up put her in the truck with him and moved her along with the furniture. By this time, my girls were worried terribly about the lethargic dog and we realized we just "adopted again!"

She arrived in Lancaster with her 90+ woodticks and after a bath, tick removal we were off to the vet and $300+ later. The dog had severe Lymes disease, a raging kidney and bladder infection that had been ongoing. With Holly being an older dog we did not know whether she was going to survive, but Detamara took on the challenge of nursing the neglected dog. We had new carpet and a leaking dog with damaged bladder control. She cried being in the laundry room and Detamara told me that "Just because someone is old, we don't give up on them, we buy diapers". "Besides you had to buy pull ups when you adopted me".

Detamara and Holly (now coined Diaper Dog by Howard the Orkin Man) are the best of friends. Bonded by their neglectful histories, where ever Detamara goes Holly is only a few steps behind. Holly is now about 10+ years old, her white face shows her age. But for the remainder of Holly's life she is spoiled. No longer neglected, she is happy to wear her Diapers and no longer wants for attention or a warm place to sleep and has plenty of food. Estrogen pills from the vet is helping keeping leaking to a minimum and we can now get by on a package a week!

Detamara has helped Holly heal and Holly has helped Detamara. A girl and her big old dog.

Diaper Dog

Yesterdays Walgreen Find--Clearance Adult Diapers for Our Dog!
$3.79 less $1.50 coupon = $2.29 and we have three weeks worth of diapers.

Walgreens Run-Saturday 3/6

2010-03-06T21:36:00.000-08:00

Total Out of Pocket: $22.96
Savings: Over $200.00 buy matching coupons and rolling rewards at a 2 Walgreens stores.

Did you know you can buy oranges at Walgreens?
I did and got them for $1.00 for 2 after using a $5.00 RR

I found 4 Pullups that are on clearance for $2.79 less 4--$2.00 coupons Paying $.79 each or $3.18/4 and received a $5.00 RR for a Moneymaker which I then rolled on other transactions.

I will submit my receipts for Medical Flex Reimbursement as I always begin with putting out my cash for non-prescription items and then roll them onto the rest of my shopping.

Walgreens wouldn't let me use the BOGF coupons on the BOGF Purex two get 2 free, but instead I bought l and got 3 free using $5.00 RR to pay only $.99 for 4. I did it twice to pay $1.98 for 8.

Kmart--Hasbro Toys Scores

2010-03-06T15:33:00.001-08:00

Kmart has the Hasbro Glo Worm on sale this month for $6.99.
Use the $2.00 off Hasbro Glo worm mfg. coupon
Pay $4.99

*I picked a couple up as I have a couple of baby gifts to buy as our niece and nephew are both expecting this spring. I have given these to each of my Granddaughters and Baby Paddles got one for Christmas.

Chuck and Friends $8.99 (There are three different assortments)
Use $3.00 off Hasbro Chuck and Friends mfg. coupons
Pay $5.99

Playskool Wheel Pals Animal Tracks Zoomimals $9.99 (Two Different Kinds)
Use $3.00 Hasbro mfg. coupon
Pay $6.99

I had fun picking up a few items for the little ones.

Pamida--Double Coupons beginning today 3/6-3/13

2010-03-06T15:31:00.001-08:00

Our Small Town Pamida has Double Coupons this week.
Combined with they match local ads, I may be able to score some freebies!

Walgreens-Next Weeks Ad 3/7 to 3/14 More FREE Cereal after RR Rolling

2010-03-05T11:36:00.000-08:00

Check out Walgreens Ad Scan for the upcoming week.

My plan:

First Transaction and Second Transactions
Buy 5 Dayquil $4.49 = $22.45
Kleenex with Vicks
Use 5--$2.00 off coupons -$10.00 (or $1.50 coupons -$7.50)
Use Kleenex with Vicks Coupon (Free)
Pay $12.45 for 5 Dayquil and Box of Kleenex with Vicks
Receive $10.00 RR
*Submit for Medical Flex Spending

Third Transaction
Buy 3 Oscar Mayer Deli Lunch Meats, 3 Kraft Cheese, Oreos @ $2.50 each
Used various coupons
2 Dozen Eggs at $.79 each
Sense and Spray $5.99 x 4
Used Wags Coupon $-$2.00 x 4 -$8.00
Used mfg. coupon 4 @$3.00 -$12.00
Total $22.93
Use 2--$10.00 RR from first and second transactions
Pay $2.93
Receive $5.00 RR

Third Transaction:
Post Fruity Pebbles $1.75 per box
Buy 4 @ 1.75 each = $7.00/4
Use 2--$1.00/2 mfg. coupons -$2.00
Add a filler 2/$1.00
Total $6.00 for 4
Use $5.00 RR from Transaction $2
Pay $1.06 including tax
Receive $3.00 RR from Post cereals

I just did my rolling and scored FREE cereal and got $3.00 in Register Rewards to start my next weeks shopping!

Leapfrog Coupons--Easter TAG Book at Target $2.99

2010-03-04T17:40:00.001-08:00

New LeapFrog Coupons:
Valid until 6-30-2010

$2/1 ANY Tag Jr. Book
$3/1 ANY Tag Book
$5/1 ANY Leapster Learning Game
$7/1 ANY Didj Learning Game
$5/1 Any Zippity Learning Game
$3/1 Any Clickstart Learning Game
$5/1 Any Fridge Toy

Use these coupons to along with the $5 off LeapFrog purchase of $30 or more Target coupon from here and find some amazing leapfrog learning finds.

Target has these TAG Jr. Books in the Easter section for $4.99.

Buy a book at $4.99
Use $2.00 off coupon
Pay $2.99

*I need three and will combine it with more leapfrog items to double up the savings with the $5.00 off Leapfrog Target Deal.

I always carry a batch of Leapfrog learning coupons in the back of my coupon binder just in case I run into Leapfrog clearance items. Doing this I have bought Tag Jr. and Tag books for as little as $1.00 and found FREE leapfrog games.

We have built quite a collection of books, games and products at this point. I have begun building Kasja and Mahala and now little Paddles Tag Jr and Tag book collections. He got a TAG reader for Christmas thanks to the Target and TAG mfg. coupon double up before he is even born. I found two books each on a clearance rack at Walmart for $1.00 after coupons.

Target--Spud Bunny Mr. Potato Head $3.99 after coupon

2010-03-04T09:54:00.000-08:00

$3.99 after coupon

In the Target Easter Section I spied a Mr. Potato Head Spud Bunny for $5.99. Use the $2.00 coupon from Hasbro and Coupons.com last month and get it for $3.99 for an Easter Basket frugal stuffer.

Another Target Easter Toys Deal:

The Easter Section has Easter Little Ponies for $5.99 and combined with the Buy One Get One Free Coupon from Coupons.com from last month will score TWO for the Price of One.