Get a free night with redbox movies.. just click this link! (legit.. promise.) I got it through bzzagent :)

http://redbox.tellapal.com/a/clk/6Fb7F

I discovered this through bzzagnet..  Itis a pretty cool web site that help kids with math. I enjoyed it, think it was quite helpful.. Be sure to check it out! We have been playing around with it for a bit tonight and its really user friendly and pretty helpful!

Okie dokie... I am a bzz agent (go to http://www.bzzagent.com/ if you are interested in signing up too). They have all kinds of cool campaigns, some are more information, some are more coupons, some are more samples, and some a nice mix. RIght now they are doing one for Covergirl's 50th anniversary.

As they say:

The next generation of COVERGIRL… is you! Visit the MyCOVERGIRL tab to celebrate and let friends and this iconic beauty brand know just what it is that makes you an easy, breezy, beautiful COVERGIRL. As part of the fun, they’ll be offering samples, fun quizzes, sweet rewards, monthly and quarterly prizes and amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Go ahead, invite your friends to the party and rock your COVERGIRL all year long!

There’s always new stuff to do

We’ll check in with you monthly via quick email updates to let you know what’s new to the celebration, including updated quizzes, prizes and giveaways. So look out for our emails and check the COVERGIRL Facebook page often!

Click the pic above and check it  out for yourself!

Free Samples 3/28

Aveeno shampoo Sample
http://www.aveeno.com/1005/haircare-free-sample

Free Quit Smoking book
http://www.jazzbooks.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=QUIT&Store_Code=JAJAZZ

Invincibility of Duct Tape

I think Duct Tape must be the greatest thing ever made (followed by the steam cleaner by McCulloch). I need to make a Lowe's run this week-end to get some more, because I am almost out. It was great enough when it was available in silver only, but now there are rainbow colors, even a rainbow tape, cammo tape, leapord print, you name it. I wish they had coupons for it, but as much money as it saves me, even without coupons it's totally worth it.. for example:

DH's car had a loose headlight from breaking one of teh mounts that had frozen and cracked when we tried to replace a headlight. So we duct taped that puppy in place ind it was good till the headlight went out the next time (quite a while later) and we replaced teh light and the tape and repeated several times over till teh car died. They wanted 150 bucks for that part.. I spent 5 bucks worth of duct tape on it..

I send boxes closed with it, fix anything plastic, cracked, or broken with it. I have taped hardback books back together, fixed a cup, and yes, repaired a duct.

I guess what brings this to mind is the Red Green show, which is awesome, and a blessing of PBS. They fix EVERYTHING with duct tape.. from the mega wok to the mid car engine sportscar (two 70's boats duct taped together after they sawed the trunk off one).. Anything you can imagine, you can duct tape.

SO from Possum Lodge's motto - 'I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess', I think it shoudl be modified:

I'm a girl, and I can duct tape, if I have to, you bet!

I must admit, I do love the Red Green show, too bad they don't make it any more. That's okay though.. I love Prarie Home Companion, who also loves duct tape (i.e. the American Duct Tape Council) and has the Ketchup Advisory Board.

New meter..

My mother had an extra coupon for a USB glucometer, which made it free for her to pick up and send to me. I have been using the program for it for several days now, because it was free to download. I love the program itself, its super easy to use, and I can log notes like my insulin consumption and meals/exchanges.

But today the glucometer came, and boy was I thrilled more than I even anticipated! Its small, easy to handle, easy to use, and lets me make notes right there! Its super easy to note before or after meal sugar notes, and it comes with a wall charger or charges from my computer. I had decided to wait to see if I liked it before I called the doc about a script change, and I just got off the phone..

Man do I love new tech, and when it makes my life easier when it comes to my health, even better!

Printable coupon sites

http://www.bettycrocker.com/clippings/coupons.aspx
http://www.boodle.com
http://www.boxtopsforeducation.com/CouponsPromotions/
http://www.couponbug.com
http://www.coupondiscounts.net/
http://www.coupons.com
http://www.couponsinc.com/corp/source/cp_clientlist.asp
http://www.customcoupon.com/
http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/coupons/
http://www.eclip.com/
http://mrsbairds.com/promotions/coupons.html
http://www.pfizerch.com/coupons.aspx
http://www.pillsbury.com/coupons/Coupons.aspx
http://www.save.com
http://www.smartsource.com
www.verybestbaking.com
http://coupons.walgreens.com
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/99/105304.htm
http://www.couponpages.com/coupons/s...et-coupons.asp
http://www.couponmountain.com/Printa...y_Coupons.html
http://www.everydayeating.com/Specia...s/Default.aspx
http://www.wow-coupons.com/
http://www.coolsaving.com/
http://wow-coupons.com/printable-retail-coupons.php
http://printable-coupons.blogspot.com/
http://afullcup.com/upload/cmps_inde...upon_generator
http://www.redplum.com/
http://coupons.com
http://smartsource.com
http://www.armandhammer.com/
http://militaryshoppers.com
http://thekrazycouponlady.com/

Long Live the Coupon Queen..

I admit it, I love coupons. I am not as neurotic as teh people who spend hours planning their shopping, spend money to get tons of coupons so they can buy enough toilet paper for 40 years or ketchup for a decade (dude really?? Do they no know the words expiration date and food poisoning), but I do stock up. And I am that annoying chick that you curse in line in front of you because I have a coupon for literally everything I buy- untill you hear the lady say 'It was 250 bucks, you only owe me 92.47.'

I grew up with not much.. mom worked 2 jobs to try and pay for a roof over our heads and food and utilities. 2 TEACHING jobs, so you can see how much THAT would be. My father was a deadbeat bum, who had disability and got money for us kids, but never gave it to mom to take care of us, because he was a jerk, which is why she left in the first place. But I digress.. it was tough and we learned how to budget. I didn't get electronics, I didn't get to go out to eat, I didn't go on vacations. I did get schooled on how to make my pennies scream for mercy, and I do.

I'm getting ready to lay out all the coupons I clipped this morning, to sort through things. I have trouble remembering my own name some times, but I can tell you what stores run what sales and when to start looking for them. I use multiple points programs, and can get multiple discounts on you name the product.

I guess it's something I am proud of.. I may not be healthy enough to work, but I can still contribute to the welfare of our family. Even on days when I can't get up off the couch because I hurt, I know that I have been able to make the times count that I can get up- I can make sure what money we do have is stretched so the kids have cool stuff to eat, to wear, to experience. Although I do have to chuckle.. dh went to go out today and teh first thing we talked about is what coupons I had, what does he need.. and bless his heart I had a coupon for free panties from Victoria's Secret, and the coupon man that he is, he stopped off and got them for me :)

I love that he knows me so well, and that he gets me, and gets what I do with this whole coupon thing. I think that's the statement in itself- we love each other and support each other, even in teh little things like saving money with coupons.

Asian PIckles and Sukiyaki beef recipes

These are two of our favorite recipes:

ASAIN CUCUMBER PICKLES

1 cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced

1 teaspoon sea salt

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

1 tablespoon mirin (Japanese rice wine)

1 teaspoon sugar

• In a large bowl, sprinkle salt over cucumbers and let sit for 20 minutes.
• Drain and cover with remaining ingredients.
• Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or as long as overnight.

SUKIYAKI UDON

Ingredients (for sukiyaki beef)

• 3/4lb sliced beef
• 1/2 onion (sliced)

Spices (for sukiyaki beef)

• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp sake
• 1 tbsp mirin
• 2 tbsp sugar

Ingredients (for udon soup)

• 2 pack of frozen udon
• 4 slice of soft tofu
• 1/4 cup green onion (chopped)

Spices (for udon soup)

• 3 cup dashi soup (or 2 tsp hondashi and 3 cup of water)
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp mirin
• 1 tbsp sake
• 1 tbsp sugar

Preparation

1. Pour hot water on Udon to defrost
2. Mix spices for sukiyaki beef in a small bowl (soy sauce, sake, mirin and sugar)
3. Heat oil in a frying pan and stir onion for 4 minutes
4. Add beef, stir for 2 minutes, then add spices. Stir until the liquid evaporates, then set it aside
5. Boil dashi soup then add spices for udon (soy sauce, sale, mirin and sugar)
6. Add Udon and cook until it starts to boil
7. Put udon and soup in a bowl, then add tofu, and put sukiyaki beef on top
8. Sprinkle green onions on top

NOTE: We also make teh sukiyaki meat and just top it over rice.

You know your kids are well adjusted when..

My daughter had a sleepover last week, not the first for sure. All the kids have had them.. and the same topic usually comes up at least once: When they go digging for snacks in teh fridge their friends ask 'What's all that stuff on the top shelf?'

Insulin pens. Lots and lots of insulin pens.

I am an insulin dependent diabetic, and over the last couple years my kids have all come to understand just what that means: Mom needs to take shots, why, and how to do it. They know how to check my sugar without my help, they know how to calibrate my pens, put everything together, and give me shots. They know what my sliding scale it, what the right blood sugar is. They know how to call 911, how to get in touch with the emergency backups, and what to do if something happens.

Somedays its a little daunting to think about the rest of my life testing and checking and injecting insulin. Well, most days. And it was a tough choice to decide to teach the kids how to handle an emergency, but it came down to two things: Either I teach them, and the can help me be healthy and get me the help I need should there be an emergency OR I can hide it from them and pretend nothing is wrong. What kind of mom would I be if I didn't show them adversity that can be dealt with, or teach them that they can handle this stuff without an emergency so that if one happens they know they can do it.

While I hate being diabetic, it gets so expensive and frustrating, I would do whatever it takes to be here and with my kids and husband. I have come a long way form being a total needle phobe to giving myself mutiple shots and sticking my fingers every single day for the rest of my life. Totally worth it though to gain days watching my babies grow up, sharing life with dh.

Free Samples 3/12

Brown bread..

Ingredients

• 4 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon molasses
• 1 oz yeast 
• 2 c water, plus 1 1/4 cups water

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F

Mix the flour with the salt.

In separate bowl mix molassas, 2 c water and yeast. Let bowl  set  for 5 minutes.

Grease pan.




When ready, stir and pour yeast mixture, with all the remaining 1 1/4 cups water into the flour to make a loose, wet dough. The mixture should be too wet to knead. Put the mixture into the greased tin.

Put pan in warm place and let bread rise just to the top of teh pan (do not let rise any more or it will overflow). Bake for 20 minutes, then turn heat down to 400 for another 40 to 50 minutes. 

from food network

Free Samples for 3/11

Heres the list of things I found for today..

Free Neti pot or sinus rinse bottle.
http://www.facebook.com/WaterpikSinuSense

Sample Parent's Choice baby formula
http://www.parentschoiceformula.com/sample-gentle-baby-formula.aspx

Free Nursing Materials promotion (magnets, coloring books, etc.)
http://www.discovernursing.com/free-materials-promotional

Free cane for the blind..
http://www.nfb.org/freecane/forms.asp

Free OB tampons (mini)
https://www.obtampons.com/mightysmall/en/register

Free sharps container
https://www.enbrel.com/order-sharps-container.jspx

Review: Philly cooking creme

I got selected to have a house party this weekend, and we have been doing some trial runs with Philly cooking creme. I have to admit I really like it. I think I maty used it more often than not and I really liked the extra  flavor it added to teh things I have made so far. I edited the old family favorite baked mac and cheese, and it was a big hit!

Macaroni (8 oz) cooked and drained
1/2 c butter
6 eggs
1 1/2 c buttermilk
2 and a half 8 oz packages shredded cheddar cheese
1 tub plain Philly cooking creme
pepper


Cook and drain pasta, then add butter in and stir till melted. Add in creme and stir until melted.
Beat eggs and butter milk. Pour into the macaroni, and add in cheese. Season with pepper to taste and stir until cheese is evenly incorporated. Pour into a large baking dish and bake at 350 until gorlden brown on top and fork comes out clean.

Tragedy in Japan..

I have been lighting incense since last night when the worst of the quakes hit, saying prayers for those affected by this horrific natural disaster. I can't even begin to imagine what they must be going through, but I can at least offer my thoughts and hopes that they can come back form it quickly, and receive all teh support possibe. Hopefully the worst is over.

Fortunately so far all teh friends and family that we have and know are safe.

One of the things that bothers me is that people are already saying 'The beginning of the end' and 'End of the world is coming'. They are starting to claim that its the start of 2012. Whats sad is that the WBC will blame it on God's vengance, teh fanatics will use it as an excuse to do bad things, and people will get even more scared.

The fact of teh matter is that crap happens. Fire, earthquake, tornadoes, blizzards, accidents, you name it. What about the ice ages? What about the bottleneck of the human race because of the moster volcanoes when virtually all of humanity died? What about the other earthquakes that were the 4 worst ahead of this one? What about volcanic eruptions that annhialated entire city populuses like Pompeii? We as haumanity survived, we have come through natural disasters, hate, violence, wars, you name it. We have come through so many apoctalyptic predictions, and yet, here we are.

I cannot imagine any God or Goddess or Higher power that would cut us off with a fell swoop in 2012. I don't believe that there is a reason for it all- there is no revenge earthquake, no equivelency tsunami, no purposeful natural disaster. We reside on a living, breathing planet. It just is.. it would happen whether people lived there or not, it happened before humanity rose up, it will after we are gone.

That said, I think I am going to stay put for doomsday 2012, and ride it out with friends and loved ones in a safe place. While mother nature may not have premeditated plans, I am not so sure about humanity.

Another day, another lab..

I think it's a little disturbing that I am getting to know lab codes just by the numbers, and I know what tests mean what. Its sad that I can tell a good phlebotomist from a bad one by experience. I think that being sick has to be the most helpless feeling.. you start to think that you'll never get to feeling better after a certain point. I hate the feeling that I can't do things because I am ill, that I can't be the person I spent all that time and money investing an education to become, all the effort into being a parent only to not be able to do the stuff the kids grew up with.

At least I am making progress, but for every thing that I find and start fixing, there is one more thing that pops up. *sigh*

Hmm.. sticking to veggies and proteins all day, and went for a cookie, and half a cookie made me say ew, too sweet. I wonder what it is about the aging process that causes people to appreciate savory and bitter tastes more. I could do without sweet chocolate anymore, and pretty much anything sweet.

The body is a fascinating thing..

Boo, car, boo.

I can't figure out why we have such shoddy luck with cars. We do the research, do our best to get things checked out before we buy, and then *pfft*. I have yet to make it 6 months which out a major shitstorm of car mahem. I do teh maintenance, keep things going, checked, and still.

It was really a pain when we got a used car, one that dh had loved and wanted forever and finally found, that dropped teh engine as soon as he crossed state lines. So away goes 4 grand to get a new engine for his 'baby'. Cool, it was in great shape, lasted quite a while with moderate repairs here and there.. till we lent it out and it was totalled, the driver sliding in it down the highway with one wheel completely gone and sheered off. Did they pay for that? No. Apologize, you know I don't think so. I don't actually recal an OMG, I am so unbelieveably sorry. It was explanationof why our car was messed up anda deathtrap.

I need to learn to not trust anyone.. Which is a sad state but it seems whenever I do- mechanic, friend, you name it, it bites me in the butt. There are only a handful of family (by blood or marriage) who have stood by me 100%, and the people I meet in teh life we are living now are sure not striving to be that. I start finding myself resenting the people around me because they pull shenanigans, and I am so tired of that.

So to the woman who can't seem to apologize, and takes me for granted, I have had enough. So long.

To the woman who stalks me, because she wants to mooch, piss off.

To the nutjobs who can't seem to do their jobs, and cost us time, energy and peace of mind- get off your duff and do your job, or take a hike. I hate you with a passion of a thousand white hot suns.