A Poem Revisited September 30, 2008

I wrote this poem a year ago for my sweet little one- Aralyn. Since Tuesdays are a little slow here at Weeping Cherries, I thought I would post it to hopefully cheer your heart to the magnificent blessing of children :).

At Home with Ara

This is the 20th raisin I’ve picked up today,
and the 3rd and last round of tickle bug I’ll play.
We’ve bounced on the ball,
And counted our toes,
And danced like the fairies
In tiny dress up clothes.
I’ve kissed three boo-boos,
And cleaned two spills,
And named all the birdies
While perched on windowsills.

But now you are sleeping,
So very peacefully,
And its then I start to wonder,
When did I lose me?

At what point did my life become entirely about you?
Perhaps when I saw not one pink line but two.
I transitioned from “Jane Eyre” to “What to Expect”,
And let’s just say my wardrobe has seen some neglect!
I used to wear ribbons tied up in my hair,
Now soggy old cheerios somehow end up there.

And yet even though I struggle not to lose my identity,
I know there’s nothing I’d rather hear than a tiny voice’s “MOMMY!”
And even though I could have picked
A job with much less drama,
This is the job that I love best:
The job of Aralyn’s Mama!

Sale Saturdays September 27, 2008

Its a much better week at Walgreens for deals! Here are the best Walgreen’s sales that I noticed for September 28- October 4.

Dawn Dish Liquid 10.3 oz.  is on sale B1G1 at 1.99 with the Weekly Ad Coupon minus two .50 cents off coupons from recent P&G Brand Saver insert= 2/.99 cents or 55 cents each.

Always Infinity Feminine Protection 14-18 pack on sale for 4.99 minus rollover of 1=3.99 minus 1.00 off coupon mailed after filling out sample request here= 2.99

Febreeze Noticeables Starter Kit is on sale for 6.99.  Buy 3 for 3 dollars in rollover= 17.97 minus 3/5.00 off coupons from recent P&G brand saver insert= 3/2.97 or .99 cents ea.

Here are some other scenarios:

Buy 3 Febreeze Noticeables Starter Kits plus 1 Mr. Clean Magic Eraser for 23.46 minus 3/5.00 off coupons mentioned above= 8.46 minus .50 cents off Magic Eraser coupon from P&G insert= 7.96 minus 5.00 in  rollover= 2.96 for 3 Kits and a Magic Eraser or .74 cents each!

Buy 3 Febreeze Noticeables Starter Kits plus 1 Febreeze Air Effects for 23.46 minus 3/5.00 off coupons mentioned above= 8.46 minus 1.00 off Febreeze Air Effects from P&G insert= 7.46 minus 5.00 in rollover= 2.46 for 3 Kits and 1 Febreeze Air Effects or .62 cents each!

Buy 4 Febreeze Fabric Refreshers for 19.96 minus 2/B1G1 coupons= 9.98 minus 2/.50 cents off coupons from the home made simple booklet= 8.98 minus 5.00 rollover= 3.98 for 4 Febreeze Fabric Refreshers or .99 cents ea.

If you need hair dye and like Nice and Easy or Natural Instincts now is the time to grab it up with the following scenario:

2 Nice and Easy or Natural Instincts dye kits for 11.98 minus 2/2.00 off coupons from P&G insert= 7.98 minus 5 in rollover= 2/2.98 or 1.49 ea.

or

3 Nice and Easy or Natural Instincts dye kits for 17.97 minus 3/2.00 off coupons= 11.97 minus 8 in rollover= 3/3.97 or 1.32 ea.

If you prefer Revlon Color Silk Dye:

Revlon Color Silk on sale for 1.99 minus 1 rollover= .99 cents

Gillette Fusion Manual or Power Razor System on sale for 8.99 minus 4 in rollover= 4.99 minus 4.00 off coupon from P&G insert= .99 cents

Gillette Shampoo on sale 2/10 minus 5.00 rebate= 2/5.00 minus 2/2.00 off coupons from P&G insert=2/1.00 or .50 cents ea.

Oral B Cross Action Toothbrush on sale for 4.49 minus 4.49 in rollover= Free minus .75 off coupon fromP&G insert= .75 cents overage!

Softsoap Body Wash on sale for 3.49.  Buy 3 for 10.47 minus 3/1.00 off coupons here= 7.47 minus esaver coupon for 1.00 off each= 4.47 minus 5 in rollover= 3/.53 cents overage!

Softsoap Liquid Hand Soap is on sale .99 cents with Walgreen’s WA coupon minus .35 cents= .64 cents

Puffs Facial Tissue on sale .89 cents with WA coupon minus .25 cent off coupon from P&G insert= .64 cents

Free After Rebate for October:

Extreme Energy 6 shot 2 pack

Loreal Cleansers minus coupon= overage

Rimmel Lasting Finish Mineral Enhanced Foundation minus coupon= overage

Weeping Cherries Very First Giveaway! September 26, 2008

I am excited to announce Weeping Cherries very first giveaway! Drum roll please……………………………..

Mommy and Me Spa Basket! Aralyn and I love to have Mommy and Me Spa Day!

One lucky reader will receive a Mommy and Me Spa Basket filled with:

Bio Infusion Organics Aloe and Wheat Protein Shampoo

Bio Infusion Organics Aloe and Wheat Protein Conditioner

Yardley London Oatmeal and Almond Naturally Moisturizing Bar

Portico Spa White Ginger Restoring Facial Bar

Portico Spa White Ginger Soothing Massage Bar

Johnson’s Buddies Soap

Aveeno Baby Calming Comfort Lotion with Lavender and Vanilla (this smells heavenly, I use it on myself 🙂 )

Glade Wisp Flameless Candle in Orchid Oasis

The entire basket retails for over 35 dollars and it could be yours! The winner will be drawn at random one week from today. Here is how to enter: Leave your name and email address in the comments section along with what is your favorite topic written about here at Weeping Cherries as well as what you would like see written about in the future. Thanks and good luck!

Jen

Feminine Friday

Feminine Friday is hosted by The Barefoot Mama. This week’s theme is Scriptures of Comfort in honor of Kelly’s friend who just lost her dear, sweet one year old. I will be sharing my most turned to scriptures of comfort and I hope that you will post your favorites in my comments section as well. Thanks and have a fabulously feminine Friday.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.”

Psalms 31:7

“I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy and steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; You have taken note of my life’s distresses.”

Psalms 34:18

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

Psalms 119:50

“This is my comfort and consolation in my affliction: that Your Word has revived me and given me life!”

When my Grandad passed away, this song was sang at his memorial service and it helped to lift my spirits:

“Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,

Sing His mercy and His grace;

In the mansions bright and blessed

He’ll prepare for us a place.

When we all get to heaven,

What a day of rejoicing that will be!

When we all see Jesus

We’ll sing and shout the victory!

While we walk the pilgrim pathway,

Clouds will overspread the sky;

But when trav’ling days are over,

Not a shadow, not a sigh.

Let us then be true and faithful,

Trusting, serving every day;

Just one glimpse of Him in glory

Will the toils of life repay.

Onward to the prize before us!

Soon His beauty we’ll behold;

Soon the pearly gates will open;

We shall tread the streets of gold.

When we all get to heaven,

What a day of rejoicing that will be!

When we all see Jesus,

We’ll sing and shout the victory!

What’s Cookin’ Wednesday September 24, 2008

picture courtesy of allposters.com

Tonight I am making chicken and wild rice with grilled squash.  I tried this recipe for grilled squash last Sunday for small group and it was fantastic.  I hesitate to even call this a recipe because it only has two ingredients: sliced squash and Italian dressing.  Soak the squash in the dressing for about 5 minutes and then toss into a large skillet to cook until tender.  Yum!

Mason Jar Monday September 22, 2008

This amazing idea for housing kitchen herbs comes to us from Better Homes and Gardens.  I thought it appropriate to share this Mason Jar Monday because it is not only a great idea for mason jars, it is also a great way to keep an herb garden during the coming cold months.

From the BHG website,

“Vintage mason jars are the ideal containers for a kitchen herbarium. They’re inexpensive and attractive, especially on a sunny windowsill, and will provide you with a year’s supply of fresh seasonings.

Almost any herb can be started from seed in a mason jar. Chive, thyme, and rosemary are excellent choices. For each, follow package instructions and keep soil warm, moist, and in full light until seeds have germinated. When they outgrow their space, you can cut them as needed, or transplant them into a larger container or into the garden.”

One reader suggests that these potted plants would make excellent Christmas gifts with a festive ribbon tied around the neck of the jar.  What a wonderful inexpensive gift!

Sale Saturdays September 20, 2008

Since we are house sitting this week and I am typing this from my parent’s computer, I have no graphics for this week’s Sale Saturday.  In typical Walgreen’s style, the first two weeks of a month are rockin’ with deals and the second two are only eh.  This week is an eh week.  Here are the best deals I saw in this week’s ad.

WALGREEN’S DEALS SEPTEMBER 21- 27

Glade Plugins Refills 3 pack on sale for 1.99 minus 1.00 esaver rebate= .99 cents

Glade Spray Air Freshener on sale for .99 cents with WA coupon minus B1G1 coupon= 2/.99 cents

Check local Walgreen’s for a variety of Seasonal items on sale.

Adidas Antiperspirant/Deodorant is on sale for 1.99 with WA coupon minus 1.00 coupon from a recent Sunday insert= .99 cents

Reach Ultra Clean Dental Care on sale 2/5.00 minus 5.00 in rollover= Free

Joy Dish Liquid is on sale for .99 cents with WA coupon minus .30 cents coupon from a recent Sunday insert= .69 cents

Free After Rebate for September

excerpt from moneysaving mom

Buy 1 Revlon Nail Color at $4.79
Use $2/1 coupon from the 8/24 SmartSource
Free plus $2 overage after coupon and rebate

Buy 1 L’oreal RevitaLift Anti-Wrinkle Concentrate at $16.49
Use $3/1 coupon from the 7/20 SmartSource
Free plus $3 overage after coupon and rebate

Buy 1 Acid Controller Complete at $7.99
Use $2/1 in Walgreens Pharmacy Booklet
Free plus $2 overage after coupon and rebate

Buy 1 Nivea for Men Body Wash at $4.99
Use $1/1 coupon from 7/20 inserts
Free plus overage after rebate

Buy 1 Crest Pro-Health toothpaste at $3.79
Use $0.75/1 coupon from 08/31 P&G insert
Free plus overage after rebate

Buy 1 LypSyl Lip Moisturizer at $1.99
Free after rebate

Buy 1 Excedrin Express Gels 20-pack at 3.99 (in stores Sept. 7th)
Free after rebate (Thanks, Shannon!)

Buy 1 Chemistry Hair Care product at $7.99
Free after rebate

Buy 1 Walgreens Pitcher Filter Replacement Cartridge at 6.99
Free after rebate

Buy 1 Pert Plus shampoo or conditioner, Get up to $4.29 back
Use the $1.50/1 coupon from the 09/07 SmartSource insert or the $2/1 coupon from the 08/03 SmartSource insert
Free plus overage after coupon and rebate!

What’s Cookin’ Wednesday September 17, 2008

picture courtesy of allprints.com

I am at a dilemma this morning.  I can’t decide between two dishes.  One is roasted garlic chicken with baked potatoes and carrots and the other is spicy shrimp pasta.  I am not positive the chicken will be thawed in time for dinner this evening since I just transfered it from the freezer so I may default to the shrimp pasta even though we had pasta (spaghetti with meatballs) last night.   Hmm… anyone know a great way to defrost a whole chicken without using a microwave or letting it just sit out?

Mason Jar Monday September 15, 2008

Today is Mason Jar Monday here at Weeping Cherries and in the spirit of Autumn I thought we could dress up those mason jars fall style!

Mason Jar Luminaries!  Instead of sand like shown here, consider filling the base with popcorn kernels or nuts for a touch of Autumn harvest feel!  Then insert tea lights in the center and perhaps tie some raffia around the mouth of the jar.  These make a really cute way to greet guests on your front porch or anywhere around the house!

Sale Saturdays! September 13, 2008

Walgreen’s Deals August 14- 20

As if I didn’t already love Walgreen’s enough with all the deals they had going on last week, this week is just as awesome! Here is a run down:

Glade PlugIns Gel with Warmer on sale for 1.99 minus esaver rebate 1.00= .99 minus coupon here= 2/.99. Plus, some stores have stickies for save 1.00 now which makes the deal 2/free!

Glade Glass Scents on sale for 1.99 minus esaver rebate 1.00= .99 minus coupon for 1.00 off in a recent Sunday insert= free plus .01 cent overage!

Glade Candle on sale for 1.99 minus esaver rebate 1.00= .99 minus coupon for 1.00 off in this Sunday’s insert= free plus .01 cent overage!

Glade Scented Oil Candle Refill on sale for 1.99 minus esaver rebate 1.00= .99 minus coupon for B2G1 in recent Sunday insert= 3/1.98 or .66 ea.

Glade 3 Pack Plug ins Gel Refill on sale for 1.99 minus esaver rebate 1.00= .99 minus coupon for B1G1 in recent Sunday insert= 2/.99 minus esaver instant coupon for 1.00= 2/free plus .01 cent overage!

Van Camp’s Pork and Beans on sale for .39 cents with Walgreen’s WA coupon.

Check your store for inventory of discounted seasonal decor and candy starting at .39 cents plus esaver coupons and rebates.

This week Walgreen’s is running a huge B1G1 deal on Walgreen’s brand pharmaceuticals. If you have the $50 Pharmacy Savings booklet, this could make these deals much sweeter. If you don’t have one go and ask the pharmacy for info on their prescription plan and they should give you one. The coupons that are applicable to the B1G1 sale are:

2.00 off Walgreen’s Ibuprofen Pain Reliever

2.00 off Walgreen’s Acetaminophen Pain Reliever

1.00 off Walgreen’s Bandages

3.00 off Walgreen’s Mucus Relief

5.00 off Walitin Allergy Relief

Maybelline Mascara is B1G1 plus 1.00 coupon from an old Sunday insert.

Garnier Fructis Deal: Buy 6 Garnier Fructis Shampoos or Conditioner for 20.00 minus 10 esaver rebate= 6/$10 minus 6/1.00 off coupons= 6/4.00 or .66 cents each.

Rimmel Cosmetics are B1G1 minus multiple coupons from this Sunday’s insert.

This week Walgreen’s has a ‘super coupon deal’ good for 2.00 off the following products:

Colgate Toothpaste

Irish Spring

Twin Pack Speed Stick

Soft Soap Liquid Hand Soap

The following scenarios are possible-

Colgate Max FreshToothpaste on sale for 2.99 minus coupon= .99 cents minus 1.00 off Colgate Max here= free plus .01 cents overage!

Twin Pack of Ladies or Men’s Speed Stick on sale for 3.99 minus coupon= 1.99 minus 2/1.00 off coupons from a recent Sunday insert= free plus .01 overage. Since they are for twin packs you get 4 deodorants for .01 cent overage!

Softsoap Liquid Hand Soap is on sale for 2.99 minus coupon= .99 cents minus .35 off coupons from a recent Sunday insert= .64 cents

Walgreen’s Pantyhose on sale for .69 cents with WA coupon.

Walgreen’s Bar Soap on sale for .25 cents with WA coupon.

Pantene Pro V Hair Care (Beautiful Lengths to get the esaver rebate) is on sale 2/8 minus register rewards of 2.00= 2/6 minus coupon for 2.00 off any 1from a recent Sunday insert= 2/4.00 minus coupon for Free Pantene Styling Product or treatment with any purchase of one shampoo and one conditioner from recent insert= 3/4.00 minus esaver rebate of 5.00 when you buy 2 beautiful lengths= 3/free plus 1.00 overage!

Free After Rebate for September

excerpt from moneysaving mom

Buy 1 Revlon Nail Color at $4.79
Use $2/1 coupon from the 8/24 SmartSource
Free plus $2 overage after coupon and rebate

Buy 1 L’oreal RevitaLift Anti-Wrinkle Concentrate at $16.49
Use $3/1 coupon from the 7/20 SmartSource
Free plus $3 overage after coupon and rebate

Buy 1 Acid Controller Complete at $7.99
Use $2/1 in Walgreens Pharmacy Booklet
Free plus $2 overage after coupon and rebate

Buy 1 Nivea for Men Body Wash at $4.99
Use $1/1 coupon from 7/20 inserts
Free plus overage after rebate

Buy 1 Crest Pro-Health toothpaste at $3.79
Use $0.75/1 coupon from 08/31 P&G insert
Free plus overage after rebate

Buy 1 LypSyl Lip Moisturizer at $1.99
Free after rebate

Buy 1 Excedrin Express Gels 20-pack at 3.99 (in stores Sept. 7th)
Free after rebate (Thanks, Shannon!)

Buy 1 Chemistry Hair Care product at $7.99
Free after rebate

Buy 1 Walgreens Pitcher Filter Replacement Cartridge at 6.99
Free after rebate

Buy 1 Pert Plus shampoo or conditioner, Get up to $4.29 back
Use the $1.50/1 coupon from the 09/07 SmartSource insert or the $2/1 coupon from the 08/03 SmartSource insert
Free plus overage after coupon and rebate!

Buy 1 2-pack regular size Living Solutions Bags at $5.99, Get $5.99 rebate
Free after rebate

Buy 1 Single X-Large size Living Solutions Bags at $9.99, Get $9.99 rebate
Free after rebate