$25 in FREE groceries from Kraft!

Kraft is having a special promotion valid only at the following stores from 08/07 - 08/23/09:

Acme
Albertsons
Biggs
Cub
Farm Fresh
Hornbachers
Jewel-Osco
Shaws
Save-a-lot
Shop'n Save
Shoppers

For complete details, go here, but here is how it works:

Purchase $25 in participating items in one transaction and receive a catalina for $5 off your next purchase (only valid for two weeks after date of transaction) and a $20 rebate form will also print at the register.

Thanks to My Penny Pile for the info!

Smile.

Such a simple thing, a smile. One of the easiest things to do really. We smile at random strangers that we pass. We smile as we sit and have a memory replay in our thoughts. We smile when we read something silly or hear something funny.

But how often in our days to we withhold a smile from our child. Oh man, I have been really convicted of this as of late. Not to say that I have been grumpy, unhappy, or even cold toward my children, just haven't been smiling at every opportunity.

How do I know? I caught myself in the bathroom mirror as I was helping my children brush their teeth. There I was, grim faced. Why? No reason. But what does this project to my child? No joy in the simple, everyday, one on one, common interactions that I have with them.

Then the thought ran through my head of how my children will remember me. Grim faced or smiling? I desperately want it to be smiling. Now, don't get me wrong, there are times to be serious or even grim faced with my children like when disobedience is involved or when a serious issue has come up. But for the everyday "Mommy can I..." moments, I am going to try to remember to not only make eye contact but also smile with the answer.

We have only moments with our children, really, and those moments need to be made important. Smile!

Kraft Minor League Baseball Promotion

Kraft has a wonderful promotion called the "Kraft Singles Tuesday Night Tickets" Promotion. On Tuesday nights take a Kraft Singles Wrapper (only wrapper, cheese not required) to most minor league baseball parks to receive a free ticket when you purchase one! This deal is valid through September 1st. For more details and to locate a local Minor League team, go here

Kraft/Nabisco savings booklet plus $20 rebate!

At my local Kroger store, in the back next to the yogurt is a Kraft display that has been there all summer. This has been a location of several peelie/pads of coupons. Today I snagged an awesome one. It is a booklet to save up to $55 off Nabisco and Planter products throughout the upcoming school year. Plus, as an added bonus, there is a $20 rebate offered!

If your local store does not have them, don't worry, you can get one online here.
Here's the deal...inside the booklet there are coupons for:

(10) $1/2 boxes of Nabisco Cookies or Crackers
(2)$1/1 Nabisco Multi-pack, any
$1/2 Planters Trail Mix Products
$1/1 Planters NUT-rition product
$1/2 Planters Peanut products, any

But here is the real kicker!

There is a rebate form inside to receive $20 back! The requirements:
Purchase any 10 participating Nabisco Cookies and crackers
AND
Any 5 Kraft beverage products (capri-sun and Kool-Aid Jammers)
AND
5 Easy Mac Single Cups

The receipts (yes, you can have multiple receipts) must be dated 07/01/09 through 06/30/10 and must be postmarked by 07/15/10. So you have an entire year to snag this awesome deal!

So, to get this great rebate, all you have to do is wait for the the items to come on sale, purchase them, put the receipts in an envelope and then once you have purchased enough, send off for your $20!

Bribing A Snaggle-tooth

My daughter, Little Cheese, has a loose tooth. I hate loose teeth. It is one of the only "Mommy" things that I wish I didn't have to endure and, whoo-hoo!, I have two more little ones coming after her to enjoy even more!

So, I have been bribing her to pull the tooth as quickly as possible. As the tooth becomes obviously "pullable", I offer her the most money (just over a dollar). With each passing day that she chooses not to yank that snaggle-tooth out, the amount lowers.

Last time she pulled it the night I offered the first amount.

Thrift Stores-What do you think?

I recently had the opportunity to spend a couple wonderful days with my friend and her family who live almost 6 hours from me.
First...let me tell you about this wonderful friendship. We met when our oldest children were 4 months and 8 months old. We became instant buds/comrades/soul mate friends. While we lived in the same town, we spent almost every available moment together. We talked on the phone for two hours in the morning while our babies napped. Then we met and spent the rest of the morning together. Then, when our babies were two years old, she had to move away for her husband's job.
Sadly, she has lived far, far, far away from me for almost 5 years. However, we still talk almost everyday and when we do see each other once a year or so, it is as if we have always been together. Soul mate friends. Do you have one? It is a real treasure indeed.

Anyway....to thrift or not to thrift. My friend has a thrift store in her area, individually owned and operated for profit (not Goodwill or the Salvation Army). It is an awesome place and we were there for two hours. I got two pair of brand new Gap pants for a total of $5. A Ralph Lauren bag for $2.98. We are talking awesome!

But here is my question. (Finally I know...) I have always felt like going to Goodwill or the Salvation Army thrift stores in my area is the wrong thing to do. I feel like the things donated should be available to those who need help. What do you think? Am I wrong? Should I go to these stores to find great bargains and steals?

To qualify this post-I need help with alot of things. Money is stretched tight on a teachers salary. But God is gracious and we still have way to many luxuries. And, I am not saying in any way that I am opposed to shopping in thrift stores, I just am not sure if I should go or not since there are those who need help more than my family.

I would love to hear your thoughts!