Iowa Hawkeyes Warmer HAS ARRIVED!!!

From Drop Box

If you have ANY ties to the Iowa Hawkeyes - this is a wonderful find!  °Ü°  (Great gift for men b.t.w.  - a LOT of men love things that smell nice!)

Scan the QR Code to be taken directly to the Scentsy Web-site to order - or call/text me to ordering locally.  641.820.1168

Full-Size Scentsy Warmer - $35 + tax.  If you order on the web-site you will pay $5 shipping.

We ♥ Scentsy around here!!

Scentsy says order on-line by the 19th to receive this before Christmas.  Won't your Iowa Hawkeye fan LUV you Christmas day??!!  °Ü°

UPDATE:  The Iowa Warmers sold out the very fist day.  Selling 11,000 in 2 days before they had to shut the ordering down.  Now it's back up - on back order - but they will begin shipping in January!  So order away!!  Enjoy!  GO HAWKS!! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MANSEL

12 years old today.  Can't believe it... he started out so small.  6#1oz.  I took him to Des Moines to the endocrinologist to make sure nothing was wrong when you were a baby and off the charts small even (that was before computers... the paper only went down to <5%.

Now you are a young man - not small in mind or body.

Keep reading Mansel - readers are leaders!!  Love the Lord with all your soul, mind and strength!


I love you!!

Neighborhood Bible Time!

Our church is having its annual N.B.T. this week. I get to be in the preschool class. I'm teaching with my friend Ruth. Often people complain about this class because its more work.
I'll tell you what - this week has been wonderful so far. We have great helpers. Ruth is laid back and easy going. I really like great, laid back, and easy going!
I learned something new this week. My own son is in this class. He is the only 6 year old. But that isn't what I learned. I learned that he didn't know John 3:16. We are working on it. He will before long.
Thank you Grace Baptist Church for running such a neat program year after year.

posted from Bloggeroid

Creek Edge Press

THIS web-site is a wonderful find!

AmyKate is a wonderful home school-er.  If you ever need one to emulate - she's one!

And NOW - now she is sharing her knowledge and skills with US!!  :sigh:  She's wonderful! 

Go check it out - you will NOT be sorry, even if you don't buy - you can glean... you can ALWAYS be a learner, you know.  Always!  I hope you like what you find... I did. °Ü°

Kettlebells

I'm learning about Kettlebells.  I don't do the Russian variety... because I'm a wimp... light weight.  This guy shows 17 different exercises using kettlebells - I can't wait to try a few.  I do the "swing" - both hands on and in between my legs.  I actually use a dumbbell... because I don't own any kettlebells as of yet.

Today I did 100 swings.  I read somewhere that doing swings burns 20 calories per minute.  Thus - doing 20 minutes of swings... LOTS of calories.  Ü  (400... in case you were reaching for your calculator). 

Memorial Day Fishing

We went fishing. Dan knew of a farm pond. Boy was he right. I'm not sure Dan got to fish much.

Milo got one.



Danielle got one or two.




Mansel got several.




Look at Wayne's fish!



I'm smiling because I got four all together.




I'm not sure if Dan got to relax much - even now he is still out there cleaning them. Fish for supper tonight.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

posted from Bloggeroid

Memorial Day Fishing

We went fishing. Dan knew of a farm pond. Boy was he right. I'm not sure Dan got to fish much.

Milo got one.



Danielle got one or two.




Mansel got several.




Look at Wayne's fish!



I'm smiling because I got four all together.




I'm not sure if Dan got to relax much - even now he is still out there cleaning them. Fish for supper tonight.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

posted from Bloggeroid

A good find

I found this picture of Danielle on here. She is a beauty

posted from Bloggeroid

Little League

We have 3 players this year. Danielle is the newest. She is playing softball.



She loves it. Go Mariners!

Milo is a rookie - the Mets.





Mansel is in the major league this year. Rockies rule!




Soon it will all be over and we won't know what to do with all our time.

posted from Bloggeroid

We are coming up upon birthday season at our house

Once upon a time I made a rule. I thought is was a good rule. Efficient.

Here is the rule. My kids will have "friends" parties for their birthdays when they are 6, 10, & 16. I have 5 kids, this rule ought to help keep a little sanity, and order. It will help us remember whose turn it is to have a party. Help me plan ahead and save up for it. Keep them from asking for one every year. That sort of thing.

Well - this year I have a child turning 6, 10, & 16. LOL. We are maxed out on birthday parties this year.

To make matters even more exciting... I am planning a surprise birthday party for my dear husband who is turning 40 this year. Call me a glutton for punishment, I don't care.

The first party is coming up Saturday. Wayne is turning 6. What has blessed me the most about this is watching the siblings get involved. Some of them are working on making a pinata for the party. Several chipped in money for the project. The excitement is growing.

I'll post pictures soon. In fact I'll post many pictures in the next few konths. Birthday season is fast and furious around here. Starts in April and over in October. 2 Parties in June, 1 in August and 1 in October.

LET THE FUN BEGIN!!!

posted from Bloggeroid

I worked out side a bit.

I mentioned to the kiddos that I was going to head outside to mow. They got a longing look in their eyes and starting dropping hints that they would like to mow. Please mom?

Well what in the world? Who am I to meet them to from enjoying the great outdoors?

So, I took this opportunity to do a bit of gardening. I had a few plants needing planting. While I was out there i noticed plants that could use thinning. I got busy.

The end result.


Plus the yard got mowed. I love the outdoors. Don't you?

posted from Bloggeroid

Blogging from my Tab

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! I don't blog much any more because of time... But... If I can blog on the go- it might happen on a more frequent basis.

We'll see.

I'm going to go to the Iowa state track meet this week. Remind me to blog about it.

And we are going to the C.S. A. garden this week. Remind me...

Oh and there are little league games this week too. Will you re...

Wait and - soccer, and school, and...

Yeah - I really should be blogging more.

Wayne's birthday it's coming up. He it's having a friends party. Remind me to tell you about my smart plan with friends parties...

I bert you can hardly wait for me to start blogging again! =)

posted from Bloggeroid

Flutter - April's Scent of the Month for Scentsy!

If you need any Scentsy for Easter or Mother's day - you know who to call.

641.820.1168

SavingsAngel.com ™ - cut your Grocery Bill in HALF through Enlightened Shopping! ™

SavingsAngel.com ™ - cut your Grocery Bill in HALF through Enlightened Shopping! ™

I'm using Savings Angel to make my grocery lists lately!

I have a food budget of $600 per month. The food budget includes things like toilet paper and shampoo and toothpastes... not only food.

BUT in the past - I've really not stuck to my budget much. I'd go do my once a month shopping - and spend my allowance... then by week 3... we were running to the store for this or that... and by week 4 we were eating hotdogs and mac-n-cheese every day waiting desperately for that once a month grocery shopping day again!!

Now - I go to Savings Angel web-site and check out what's on sale at my favorite local store (Fareway), and Hy-Vee and Walmart... BECAUSE Fareway will match all their prices.

I chose those 3 stores... and make a list. What Savings Angel does is tell me what's on sale, and tell me where to find coupons - either on-line, or in my file folder full of coupons from the Sunday paper. I click on what I want... then go to another page and click on how MANY I want and put them in order by aisle. i don't HAVE to put them in order - but I like it that way... I like it that I have that option.

THEN it tell me what I will pay, and what I would pay for the item at full price.

The thing I LOVE??!!!??? I love that each week I still have food in the cupboard and I'm NEVER making runs to the store with the credit card so we have something to eat. I get CASH out every other week... (if I get it every week... it's an odd number and my ATM machine will only give me 20's. LOL That's why)... so I go every other week - get $300... this week I'll spend $100 probably. Woo Hoo!!! That leaves $200 for next week. That's wonderful!! Sometimes I do a run to COSTCO - because i like buying something in bulk with THEIR coupons... like hand soap. or those clorox chemicl wipes. Baby wipes... COSTCO cleans up on baby wipes... Press'n seal stuff from Glad... I get that at COSTCO too... but anyway...

If you look at my link above you'll see that I have coupons for REAL stuff. I'm not buying JUNK just because it's on sale and I have a coupon - or if it IS junk... like the blue bunny ice cream - we are getting 1... for Sunday. I'm getting apples, cabbage, tuna - lots of it - tuna helper, lunch meat, mac and cheese, bleach, frozen veggies (lots of them), banquet meals (because I like them for myself for potion control), and cereal. We have visitors coming who like cereal. So I'm stocking up on cereal while it's on sale and with coupons - instead of waiting for the week that they come and paying $2.99 a box for it. THEN - this leaves me more money for meat - that is outrageous right now. pft... who wants to pay $3/# for hamburger? That's cRAZY! but I can now because I'm saving so much on the other stuff. No more hot dogs for 7 days in a row at the end of every month. :giggle:

Savings Angel has a deal where you can try it for a few days to see if it indeed will help you save money. I like that - you can see if the stores around you are on the list. I know some moms who play the coupon game - but the stores where you can do that are more than an hour away for me. Not a savings for me to drive there every week to get groceries.

I hope you can glean something from this information! It's really been a great help to me and my family.

The other day on Rush...

http://www.groupon.com/r/uu14089214

I was listening to the Rush Limbaugh show in the car the other day.  There was a guest host on -- I don't remember his name.

BUT - he was talking about our economy.   Very interesting... he brought up Groupon.  Actually what he was saying about Groupon reminded me of Scentsy - so I really was listening.  Groupon is a company that has an electronic coupon.  You can have them e-mailed to you... they are usually for your community.  It's a good deal - usually 50% off or more, and it's only good if a certain amount of people click on it to buy.  If you click on it to buy - and there are not enough people who join you - then the deal is off... but if you really LOVE the deal, and you click on it to buy, and you tell ALL YOUR FRIENDS... because you love the deal so much, that everyone else buys it too - then it's on. Ü


It's a form of free advertising for the company offering the coupon. It's FREE for the company offering the deal to be a Groupon offering.  Groupon pays for having the web-site, probably... The company actually gives half of the profits from the "deal" to groupon - that's how Mr. Groupon Man makes money.  Companies are LINING up to be one of the ones to offer a coupon.  There are more companies then days of the week this is working so well.

So - today's deal for me - Smokey Row Coffee... $15 worth for $7.  How very cool is THAT?  That's more than 50% off.  Ü  I like those sort of deals.  I'm getting one for my dear husband's birthday - so don't tell him.  LOL

Ok - so - the government didn't stimulate this Mr. Groupon man to do this.  He didn't stimulate any of the companies who are lining up to be a part of this to be a part of it.  The government didn't stimulate me to want to buy a gift for my dear husband's birthday either.  Free enterprise - that's what works.  If the government would stay out of the economy - we'd probably make a very quick recovery.  Speaking of which - I did very well with Scentsy this year.  Well I did well for me... some Independent Consultants got $1,000,000 in commission this year... I believe they did VERY well this year.  Who's having a bad economy? 

OH - the kicker???  Google offered Mr. Groupon man $6,000,000,000,000 (is that billion?) for the company... AND HE TURNED THEM DOWN!!  Wowza... (perhaps Mr. Groupon man isn't all that smart) OR he's making a TON of money and all them zero's really don't have the same effect on his as they do on me.

Neat thing that groupon is...  are you a Grouponite? Groupie?  Grouper?  (I'm not sure what we are called).

p.s  Apparently Mr. Groupon Man is Mr. Andrew Mason - he tweets.  

Ron Paul Responds to TSA: Introduces 'American Traveler Dignity Act'

Wow -- this Ron Paul man really seems to have his head on straight!

Scentsy College Warmers!!!

You can go to this site and VOTE for your college to be release next... if your college has already been selected... you can see who is "winning" in sales. TOO FUN!!

Just a Reminder

Shelly (Dauchenbach) Braley's baby passed away on the 6th of October... this video was posted on facebook today - I hope if you watch it, you will remember to lift Shelly and her family up to the throne of grace today.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Now - go hug your babies!

Sabra the Baby Giraffe Birth

WOW -- How cool is THAT? Thank you Des Moines Blank Zoo for sharing this.

Just the Facts

I just heard some facts about Scentsy that I'd like to share with you.

I was not a consultant last year at this time... so this is all new to me. But I learned something new last night that astounds me... I want to share it with the world -- but for now I'll just share it with my blogging friends.

"Normally" October is 30% higher in sales then September. People are getting ready for Christmas...

"Normally" November is 80% higher in sales then October. :Thud: (that's me hitting the floor in a dead faint).

So - I can't say... "you will make this much, I promise".

But I will say -- if you need extra spending money in December... now would be a good time to start selling Scentsy.

Let's just say... you sign up now... October. You get your kit -- you are READY to have parties... as soon as it comes... In fact you can sign up -- and start booking parties before the kit comes... then you'll hit the ground running. Have a few parties in October... get a check in November... LET'S JUST SAY... you sold $1000 all together in October... 25% commission. That's a $250 check in November.

Now -- If November is statistically 80% higher then October... your $1000 will turn into what? (grab your calculator)... that's right... $1800 in sales.

$1800 in sales in November would be a $450 check in December. You would get paid on the 10th... Friday... that leaves 15 days to spend that money for Christmas.

Does your mind work logically like that, like mine does?

Map out your plan... work hard and get good results.

Obviously -- if you sell less.. you make less... But in my experience -- Scentsy is NOT overly saturated in my area, is it in yours... I still have people saying to me, "Oh -- I've been looking for some Scentsy." I can tell you, "Scentsy is easy to sell." which it is -- but it's not all easy work. If you want to do anything well -- it's work. But the rewards can be fabulous!!

Give me a call if you have questions... or fb me... or text me... 644.745.9265

or go to my web-site... the FAQ is very helpful there, and that is where you would go to join. https://jenniferjohnston.scentsy.us/Join

$99 to sign up... (plus tax and shipping - for me it was $115)

So - are you thinking -- how long before I earn that back? What would I need to sell in order to earn that back? Your first $999 you earn 20% commission... So you would need to have one $500 party at 20% commission to earn back your $99. After that -- it's all gravy. Yes? Your start up kit comes with everything you need to have a home party. Catalogs, order forms, party tester scents, a warmer, bar of wax... everything you need... plus a few extras.

So even if you wanted to use your November check to pay off the kit... or get a return on your money... you would STILL have a December check to use for Christmas gifts... or food... or gas. Ü

Personally? My goal -- it's to reach my Dave Ramsey baby step #3. $10,000 dollars in savings. Just a few months ago I thought... Well -- that will take me 3 years to reach that goal... bit by bit. BUT... after learning what I learned last night. I may be able to cut that time frame in half! Can you believe that? That sounds too good to be true. But numbers don't lie... do they? We'll see. I'll let you know in December. °Ü°

Love & Respect

Dr. Emerson Eggerichs - Love and Respect - 01 Found at abmp3 search engine

I need to hear this again - so I'm assuming someone else might too.

Subscribers

Thank you to my 5 subscribers.

°Ü°

I appreciate you -- if you are a subscriber -- e-mail me your address and I'll send you some SCENTSY love.

Print Friendly

I've added a new button to my blog.

It's a Print Friendly Button.

Cool huh?

NOW -- if I ever post a recipe for granola or the directions on how to make a hotdog pillow case or post the cutest picture EVER of my almost 5 year old son Wayne... then you can hit that button and print only the post and not my entire blog and then some. (Don't you hate that!?)

Thanks to Print Friendly for the button and the great simple instructions -- so YOU TOO can have a cute little button.

So -- ta tah for now. I'll be back in September... hope you enjoy your summer! We are already enjoying our! oh and... HAPPY PRINTING!

Family Closet

Well -- now -- that's probably not exactly what you are thinking... I'm pretty sure.

I bet my family DOES have things hidden in a closet -- but what about a FAMILY CLOSET at my house -- where the whole family has their stuff in ONE PLACE!!

My on-line friend Ginger has a family closet at her place and I was just drooling reading about it on her blog. Isn't that the coolest idea or WHAT? (I'm assuming you clicked on the link and read her post).

I want one.

Do you?

Where would you put one?  My laundry room is upstairs -- our folded laundry sits in the hallway and it's annoying, until it gets pulled too and fro so much that it ends up back in the dirty clothes -- and I know it's not dirty because it's still partially folded... but alas... after sitting in a basket with dirty underware -- it now does not smell spring clean.  :gag:  So I must re-wash it... or the wearer of said stinky still folded clothes would highly offend people that day.

We've got the room... I've got a guest bedroom--- and a classroom and a den that I could somehow blend together.  I EVEN have a girls room right across from teh laundry room that I could use and I could put the girls in the guest bedroom.  Hmm...  thinking... thinking...  The guests could sleep somewhere else.  The classroom maybe, and then, then... we could put all the books in the den.  I'd have to prune a few books... WAIT A MINUTE... I could put some books in the FAMILY CLOSET... books on one side... the clothes on the other side of the room.  Oh my word... I'm getting all excited!! 

I LOVE this idea Ginger --- you know what else?  I love sharers... Ginger is a sharer... I've asked someone to teach me to make home made noodles... it's never happened... and here Ginger shares her pictures of her Family Closet -- and I didn't even have to ask. 

What a gal!  Ü

SUMMER OFF

The last several years we've followed a schedule where I would school for 3 months, then take one month off.  Usually we'd take August, December and April off.  Ended up about the same amount of time off -- just not all at once.

Well -- this school year (at the beginning) we decided to do a "normal" schedule.  I threw my dobuts to the wind about my kids forgetting every thing they ever learned (then we'd have to start all over in Kindgergarten in the fall), and are jumping into this new adventure feet first.

You  know what?  I'm so excited for June to be here I can hardly believe it.  We followed our local school districts schedule (loosely), and here we are -- at the end of our school year.  Woo Hoo!!!  We are in the middle of Math books - at the end of History books - and behind in spelling books probably... but we are calling it quits anyway.  That's what happens when you have weird schedules you end up with weird quitting spots.  But -- I'm the boss... and when it's time to quit -- we are quitting.

This summer I'm going to work at selling Scentsy.  (Meet me at booth #20 at the West side of the Knoxville Square!) The kids are going to work at getting a tan in the pool.  My husband is going to work at Pella Corporation.  So -- we'll be busy... just not doing school.  A trip to Colorado is planned -- we will be reuniting with my Dad's family.  Leah, Jini, Ron and Gene and kids and grand kids and maybe a few other stragglers here and there.  Who knows?  Neighborhood Bible Time will be squeezed in.  Junior Camp.  Our kids birthdays start in June -- the 1st of June actually.  The pool is cleaned and ready to go. (many thanks to Dan for that!) And we'll finish up with our church's Family Camp in September and be ready to tackle another school year. 

Now -- I need to make next fall's school schedule -- I can hardly wait.  My left eye is twitching I'm so excited.  But let's not hurry summer!  I want to cherish it.

I usually take a hiatus from electronic entertainment... but I'll need to computer for Scentsy ordering -- so I'll just skip the "official" boycott, and just be on here a bit less.  Who has time for TV and FB when I could be floating on a raft?  I'm not getting skin cancer -- in fact I'm soaking up some vitamin D... I've read a paper once that says people who use sun block actually get cancer at a more frequent rate.  LOL  I'm carrying that article in my back pocket this summer!! (I think it is all about skin types anyway).  We all gotta die of something... so I'm choosing skin cancer... everyone know tan fat looks better than white fat anyway -- that's a fact!

Hope you all have a HAPPY SUMMER!!!  

I plan on it!

I'll be back in the fall with pictures.  (you know me)

°Ü°

This is Just a Test

At our house -- the man of the house is the movie man... so I'm thinking the reason so many movies fail this test is BECAUSE -- the movies are designed for the customer.  



BUT -- they may have a point... interesting... what do you think?  Is this because they industry is listening to what the market wants?  or are they developing the market by their own likes or dislikes... and the men are just stumbling along blindling following WHAT.EV.AH...

 Great find Abraham Piper -- you can go to his blog to see what he and his readers this of this test.

Tis a Bird Day

Let's play I Spy.

I spy something small and yellow and chirpy.


Can you see them?

BIRDS.  

Pretty birds.

There were a whole FLOCK of them... I think I counted 8 at once.

The birds were eating the left over seeds from last years wild flowers.  I know they look like weeds... but really -- they are pretty weeds flowers!   Ü

Isn't God's creation wonderful?

Thank You God for the pretty birds you sent for me to enjoy!

The Next Four Years

Do you know what you will be doing in four years? (the Lord willing)



Well -- I do.  ACTUALLY I know what TORI will be doing in 4 years... because I said so...

Think I'm crazy?  No -- just a planning freak gone wild.  For those of us who LOVE to plan and make charts and organize and think and drool over home school stuff... you know who you are... The four year high school planning stage is HEAVEN (said in a high sing song voice!)  Woo hoo...

I was trying to spread my enthusiasm around a bit last night... and people quicly fled the room... I found myself sitting at the dining room table all by myself... leafing through the Scope and Sequence book from Landmark Freedom Baptist Curriculum... turning the pages... thinking, "what if".  "If only".  "My kid will be so smart when they are done with this four year plan." sort of thoughts...  She will KNOW all about the North American Continent before European colonization... and isolationism versus diffusionism.  "The Fish I didn't Catch" will be read and comprehended and vocabulary from that story used.  Binomials and Tinomials will be talked about (hopefully with her dad... think he remembers that stuff?)   After four years Tori will have learned about Hygiene... there is a class for everything -- in case I forgot to teach her about footcare, or deodorant.  And shop... need I say more? 

I bet since I'm typing about TORI's life you think I'm typing about shopping.  NO -- I did not mistype... I said SHOP...  electricity, plumbing, machine shop and carpentry sort of Shopping.  It's an elective... I let her elect.  Well -- the more I thought about it -- the more I liked her choice.  She is a first born driven sort of gal... and in week one of SHOP she has to choose a project to do from one of the four areas...  Well -- I need a new deck.  I'll give her an A+ in shop if she builds me a deck (that will work).  It can't cause me to break my leg every time I use it...  I'm so excited!! 


And Spanish I.  Some things I'm less excited about... Dan did peruse her schedule and crack open the Spanish workbook... as he was pronouncing those words, I realized I'll probably be the Spanish coach, not he.  That's too bad... just ask my dad... he was my Spanish I coach.  Well -- we are planning for Spanish in her Freshman year -- that way if it takes her four years to do... NO -- I'm kidding!!  It'll be fine...  (oh me)...

I am excited about one thing -- being from a Christian curriculum... her Spanish class goal is to be able to present the Gospel to a Spanish speaking person.  That's a lofty goal, and I pray she attains it!  And it does come with some CD's...

My one huge strangling fear was that after 4 years of high school... she would decide to go to college and then "they" would all turn to me and say, "Her transcript please," and I would be standing there -- under a really bright light -- with only my slip on... and one curler left in my hair and lipstick on my chin and me crying and saying... "Trans wha??". 

Well -- LFBC gave me a sample to follow -- and I'm all over make charts... so I sat down and did it already.  LOL  I'm such a nerd.  I'm so eXciTeD!!!  I feel like we have arrived already.  Poor Tori - for some reason -- seeing all those classes and charts and credits and grades and BLAH!  She may be a bit overwhelmed... so we'll take it one day at a time... but my parts done.  So There!  (Whew... I don't even own a slip... that was making me a bit nervous).

Here we go Tori!!!  (first lets finish this year... only 1 more day of school left... you can DO IT!) 

Wrinkled Ladies

It looks like the last time I posted it was an Anita Renfroe video -- apparently I like her sense of humor.

Well -- laugh along with me again will ya?



Oh -- the joy of being in the 40 and over club. :giggle:

Today is my Brithday -- so to celebrate... let's all laugh together

I love laughing!!  and I LOVE Big Ol' Sweet Iced Tea °Ü°

Scentsy Basket Party

I have all of my bags of Basket Party Samples out right now -- so does anyone want to be next in line to have a Basket Party for me? (It's just like a catalog party).  I'll mail them to you too, if you think you are too far away.  A basket party is a pretty cool idea, if you ask me.  You can earn the same hostess rewards as you would a home party!  You get 80+ scents in a small carry around bag... to smell while looking at the catalog.  Really -- very cool idea.  °Ü°   Easy to take out and about. 

I have several things for you to remember.  RED CANDY APPLE scent is wonderful... 10% off in April.  E-mail if you'd like a sample.

NATURES HAVEN Full size Warmer of the month for May is going to be very popular.  I have a waiting to order list going already... 10% off in May.  I'll be making samples of the scent soon.  May's scent is Clarity - it's a lemony & herby smell - very fresh... e-mail if you would like to be on the list for receive these samples.  I'll have them ready by May 1st.

Lots of options.

May is a gift giving month -- with Mother's Day and Graduations and Weddings.  Just f.y.i.  Plug in Warmers are normally allowed in dorm rooms, same wattage as a night light... what a Scentsational gift THAT would be for a new Freshman in college.  Let me know if I can help you with gift giving. 

pst... Pass this on to your dear husbands or children if you would love some Scentsy for Mother's Day -- gift wrap included.

If you are local and aren't in the party mood -- but want to stock up on Scentsy with free shipping -- I'll be making a order for myself in May.  I'm getting ready for Farmer's Market in Knoxville.  Give me a hollar and I'll add your order in with mine.  I love free shipping!!  Don't you?

~*~ Jennifer Johnston ~*~
A Independent Scentsy Consultant
641.943.2350
https://jenniferjohnston.scentsy.us/home

Nothing to Trifle With

My dd made me a trifle for my birthday -- in place of a birthday cake.
Oh my word...

It was heavenly...

So much so, that I believe I may have gained 3.5 pounds just from eating 1 helping of it.

Thank You Tori!!

This Trifle will go down in history, I believe.

It was yummilicious!

I serviced the yummilicious trifle (that cost 3.5 pounds a serving) in my Grandmother Phillips' crystal glasses.  Any of my relatives reading this blog want to expound on that a little?  I'd love to be able to share the history of such fine goblets with my children next time we use them.  I think it made the trifle taste just a tad bit yummilicious being served in real crystal. 

One more race

Distance Medley  - it's a long race.


Distance Medley Relay 2010 Knoxville MS Track at Newton from Jennifer J. on Vimeo.

200 y dash

You know... grandparents read this blog.  So -- yes, I'm posting another race today.  Ü


2010 Knoxville @ Newton Track Meet, 200 y Dash from Jennifer J. on Vimeo.

4th place finish! 

Yesterdays Track Meet

Track and Field is one of my favorite sports to watch. Tori had a track meet yesterday in Newton.  It ended up being 63° and drizzly the entire 4 hours.... you know what?  I had a GREAT time!  Ü  I told Tori on the way home, "now -- if I had to be in the rain and 63° for 4 hours for anything else, I'd probably be a whiny crying baby".  LOL  

Well -- this is one of Tori's races... I'll share the fun with you.  She is running the third leg.  

Marissa, Laney, Tori, then Jenci.  A great relay team.  They ran together their 7th grade year too.  Their time was around 58 seconds... their goal -- set by their coach was 59.  YEAH!! 

2010 KNOXVILLE MS TRACK @ NEWTON, 4x100 from Jennifer J. on Vimeo.

GREAT JOB GIRLS!!!

GO PANTHERS!!!

My husband is such a ham...

 When ever Dan gets in front of a camera -- he starts kissing.  LOL

So -- I thought I'd save one for posterity. 

swag bucks

Something new...

So -- have you heard of swag bucks??

www.swagbucks.com is a search engine that offers you the chance to win cool prizes from swagbucks.com every time you search. They believe very strongly in rewarding their users for their loyalty and the prizes are their way of thanking us. No registration is required. Try it, you'll be hooked - we guarantee it!

I put my referal code "button" on the side of my blog.  I'd love it if you used my name if you sign up.  BECAUSE, of course, I'd get some swag bucks. 

It's real... folks have used their points to get gift cards... and that's my goal... because one can never have too many gift cards can they?  OK -- that sure sounds greedy.  But if you are already seraching for something on-line  (I sure do), then you might as well get a buck or two for doing what you already do.  Ü 

Have fun!!

Bootcamp for Lousy Housekeepers

Some of you know me... I love a clean house -- but I don't love to clean house. Ü


But I have pre-read some of this book Bootcamp For Lousy Housekeepers by Heidi Schaap, and I'm telling you what -- this Drill Sargent author knows her stuff. When I follow her example, it sure makes something I don't love to do a whole lot easier.


Well -- it's about spring... which means about time for spring cleaning -- so JUST IN TIME, Miss Heidi is going to give away 2 copies of her new book BOOTCAMP FOR LOUSY HOUSEKEEPERS.  I want to WIN!  I want to hold a copy in my little hands.   


I'm blogging about her contest so I'll be entered in a drawing to I may win one of her books.  I read her stuff while the book was in the making -- I want to read what made the final cut.  So -- don't even think of heading over to her blog, or being a fan on facebook, or twitter... because I want my chances of winning to be better.  LOL 


OK -- I wasn't supposed to say that... Actually -- head on over... you may learn some thing new today. Here is the verbage she posted on her blog.

It's just SIX days until spring, and if you're anything like me, I know you're just itchin' to open those windows wide and shake loose the the winter's yuckiness from your home.

It's SPRING CLEANING time!

To make this therapeutic, if not overwhelming task a little easier for two special Bootcampers, and in honor of reaching almost 3000 visits since my blog began, it's also time for a SPRING CLEAN FLING -- that means I'm giving away one print copy and one digital copy of Bootcamp for Lousy Housekeepers on this Saturday, the first day of spring!

There are four easy ways to get into the running:

1. Follow this blog, and leave a comment letting me know that you have! (Just click the Follow! button on the left and follow the instructions.) (So -- you need to follow HER blog... not mine.)

2. Follow me on Twitter, and leave a separate comment letting me know that you have! (That's HEIDI... not me -- I don't tweet... I'm not a bird).
3. Become a fan of Bootcamp for Lousy Housekeepers on Facebook, and leave a separate comment letting me know that you have!  (Oh -- I did that already -- have you?)

4. Blog about this giveaway on YOUR blog, and leave a separate comment with the link!  (OK  -- I've done that now... thanks for reading friends.)
You can enter one, two or all four ways, but the more ways you enter, the more chance you have to win -- I'll pick the winners randomly on Saturday!

May the Lousiest Housekeeper Win!!   (That's ME!!!  I'm the lousiest!! Pick me, pick me!)  ha ha haaa

New Thing

I have HEARD this before... but yesterday it really HIT me.


God is soverign.  I know that.

SO when I'm thinking... "WHAT??  Why is this happening?  How can this be in your plan?  I'm ruining EVERYTHING!!  My children -- HELP!"

God is saying... BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP --  "This is a test. Your God is conducting a test of the Conforming them to the image of His Own Son system. This is only a test."

 So - now I have posted by my sink.  THIS IS ONLY A TEST... °Ü°


1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Pe 1:6  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
1Pe 1:8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Paul David Tripp says, "God is at work in every situation to conform us to the image of his Son.... God is at work to complete the work of salvation He began before the earth was made... We ought to greet trials with joy because God is using them to complete us.  We can view trials as the means by which we receive the goal of our faith, the salvation of our souls."  I may just start calling some people by their real name -- "Hey Trial -- nice to see you.  See the joy on my face!?!  Really -- I'm being conformed just by you being in the same room as me."  (Ok -- could you hear the sarcasm?  I hope so.)

I have heard these things before -- but it got hammered into my heart yesterday.  I need to give up my "control" of my circumstances -- they often are a result or a consequence of some choice I have made, but sometimes they are not.  I can not make anyone not be rude... but when they are rude... THIS IS ONLY A TEST!!  It's not a personal failing of mine, and I need to keep my focus on Jesus Christ, and know that I am being conformed into His image.  Praise God!

I am enjoying going through Paul David Tripp's book War of Words with my Wednesday Night Group.  Thank you for leading that Dave Hendricks, and offering it Grace Baptist Church.  Appreciate it!  No really... I do... I like being broken down and reshaped... I do...really...

Declaration of Independence

My kiddos are supposed to be memorizing the Declraration of Independence with our home school group.  I'm not sure they are keeping up with the rest of the kiddos -- because I forget to work on it at home.  But my friend Becca decided to share this with us who are working on it together.  I'm glad she did. 

Enjoy!

 

Mansel on the Mat

Mansel likes wrestling. This photo is for his Grandpa and Grandma -- who don't get to see him wrestle often. He's wrestling at 80 pounds this year. Can you believe it?  That weight often puts him against 7th and 8th graders, so his record as a 4th grader isn't as good as you would like it to be.  But -- this year he is getting a lot of good wrestling time.  Districts will be March 13th. 

GO MANSEL GO!!

My Firefighter

Wayne likes to play dress up -- this day he donned a fire hat, his fireman boots, and his face mask (left over from Dan's c-pap machine)...

I'd say he's pretty close. LOL Better then his sister's princess dresses!

Wrestling Season in Iowa

If you aren't from Iowa -- you may not get this... but it's Wrestling State Tournament this week.  Amazing stories are surfacing -- and I'd like to share one of them with you.


 

My Facebook Face

Often I see pictures on facebook with pouting lips, or swooning eyes, or smoochy lips, or coy/sly looks... well -- here is my facebook look.

I can't even get close to those other teen age looks -- if I try it makes me look like a clown... so I'll just jump right to the look like a clown look in the first place.

Does it make you feel all swoony, pouty, poochy?

A Clean Room

You know... first impressions can sometimes be deceiving.  Look at this -- the boys cleaned their room.  

Those boys -- they know how to please their mommy. I love a clean room... this is Wayne's bed... doesn't he do a good job for a 4yo making his bed?  Ahhh...

How nice -- wait.... hmmm...what's that sticking out there... see it?  Under the bed at the end there?    That black thing?  What is that?

Here... bend down -- get a closer look.  Yeah, that's what I thought -- some one is a good shover... not a good cleaner.  :sigh:  Those boys...

A really good shover -- they packed that stuff in there tight.  Good grief -- they must have used their feet to get that in there so far.

Poor mister bear.

Check Out Sew Darlin' -- It's a Contest!!

I have a friend -- OK so she's an on-line friend, but I bet we'd be friends in real life.  She has met Ree.  Ü  I've never met Ree, but but I wish I had.  Anyway... Stacy is my friend.  Ü  She has redesigned her sewing blog.  It's CUTE!!  She's have a contest to get the word out about her blog.  (I should do that about my Scentsy stuff... shouldn't I).  Hmmm... anyway... 

Here goes. Go check out Sew Darlin'  -- you may find something you like, and you might as well enter her contest while you are there.

Did I forget to mention?  She's doing a give-away... and it's a doozy.  

"On the evening of February 22nd I will give away a $20 gift certificate."

That's huge isn't it?  Literally...

Oh -- I would love to win that -- wouldn't you?  You don't know?  Well -- you'd better get over there and check it out.  She has cute taste, and talent too.  (I've got cute taste and no talent... that doesn't work as well).  

Blog Trail Tuesday

My friend Melissa at Our Life as a Military Family is hosting a blog trail tuesday -- want to play along?

Have you ever clicked on a blog, only to be led to another blog, and then another, and another? Here’s your time to share some of those blogs with us! Share one or share many. Share one you’ve loved for a time or share one that’s new to you. Tell us why you like it. Help us spread the blog love!!

So this week I want to share a blog called Picket Fence Farm and Produce. This is a blog by our local CSA farmer.  (CSA being Community Supported Agriculture).  We are going to work on her farm this summer to pay for our CSA membership. I hope to learn a lot!  Before then, I've enjoyed reading about her farm on her blog.  I see she is getting into HONEY!  Yeah... I love honey.  Ü




Now it’s your turn! Use the banner above, if you’d like. Do a post on your blog about another blog. Be sure to link back to Blog Trail Tuesday blog! Then come back to Melissa's blog, and add your link to the McLinky. Be sure to add the link to the specific post – not your home page. Then be sure to check out everyone else’s links.  (If you can do all those things, you are a better person than I -- I messed it up last time... so here goes nothing).  LOL

We are a Bunch of Goats

We took a trip to the dentist yesterday.  Milo needed to get 4 teeth removed, maually, and Wayne needed to get 1 cavity filled. 

In the past when the kids have gotten teeth pulled -- some of them have fainted in the doctor's office, others have made it to the car before feeling light headed... so I warned the nurse... watch him, he may faint.

Milo did just fine. See his holes? 

Wayne on the the other hand... didn't fare so well.  Wayne had 1 tooth filled... he made it to the waiting area -- happy go lucky -- looky at my motorcycle toy I got.... made it to the car... told us all about it... made it into COSTCO after jumping through puddles and being scolded by his mommy... made it to the picnic table, waited for his lunch.  I ordered several things, so was making several trips.  I'd given him his yogurt and was picking up the hotdogs... on the way back to the table... I saw him with his head down on the table... I said, "Oh buddy -- do you have an ice cream headache?"  No response... huh?  I felt his head... clammy... looked at his hands -- white as a sheet.  What?  A fainter with delayed reaction?  Apparently so. 

I say our family is a bunch of goats.  When Danielle got 5 teeth filled in one visit -- nary a thought of passing out -- ever, there or at home.  Milo -- four teeth pulled a bloody mess... nothing.  Me?  When I see myself bleeding -- watch out... I may hit the floor.  I've got bragging rights... I've never officially fainted, but I get pretty woozy.  LOL  I know enough to sit down -- even if the onlookers are mocking me.  Dan... he's a fainter, Tori... she's a fainter... Mansel... he's been close -- pretty white and clammy.  Wayne -- one tooth filled, laughing and chatting and eating... then BAM... well -- not really BAM literally... I gently laid him down and put his feet up. So he never went completely down - like others have, but he definitely inherited the fainting gene from his parents.  Weird, huh? 

Dan thought he might faint just after seeing Wayne feeling like fainting.  Funny huh... guess he chose the right line of work -- no blood or guts or fainting when working on machines.  LOL

Tori is in a Skit

Funny.  Ü 

Free Printable Valentines

We are printing our own valentines this year.  Found some for Danielle to share.

do you do this?  Where do you find good ones?

Books, Books, Books

Do you have any used books lying around? Ones you've already enjoyed, but you're never going to read again? I did, and I finally found a great way to share them with other people!

It seems that a few guys were sitting around one night talking about all the paperback books that they purchased over the years while traveling on business. Each of them had a large stack of books that they had read, so they decided to set up a website at http://www.PaperBackSwap.com/ that allows all of us to swap books with each other.

Let me tell you how it works -- because it is so easy! I listed a bunch of books on the site (listing 10 books gets the first member in your household free credits!) and I got 2 free book credits to get started. So you can order 2 books right away - free of charge -- and have them mailed directly to you! No strings attached. No gimmicks. No spam mail. Nothing. You just have to love reading books.

When another member selects one of my books that I have listed, I mail it to them. Yes, I pay for the postage. But then I get another book credit and I can select a book that I want. So another Club Member returns the favor and mails me one of his or her books free of charge. For every book I mail out, I get another book in return - a true shared system!

When someone requests one of your books, all you have to do is print two pieces of regular paper from your printer which includes the mailing address and the recommended postage. Apply the postage, and drop it in the mail. Hey, for a typical paperback, you don't even need to go to the post office.

Right now the annual club membership is free. Eventually the founders will ask everyone to help contribute to pay for the upkeep of the web site, but for now the annual club membership is free. The annual dues will probably be between $10 and $20 based on the number of people in the club. But again, right now you don't even have to pay any dues for at least one year if you become a Member.

You really need to check this out. And if you do sign up, please use the following link:

http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php?r_by=gabbygwenhwyfar@gmail.com
If you use the link above to join, I'll get a free book when you post your first ten books (and you'll still get free books for posting them!)

I hope you find something you like there.. it really is a great deal! 

My Favorite Commercial

Thanks Tim Tebow and his Mom.  Ü (Oh.. and Focus on the Family)