At the risk of turning this into a bargain-blog, I'm sharing another really good deal. Here are some nifty game bargains at Target until tomorrow (Sat. 11/7)!
Target is running a Buy-2-Get-1-Free sale on Wii games ($49.99 and less) and many are already on sale as low as $14.99. There's also a '$10 off 2' games coupon from their toy catalog or online HERE, making this a "s-wii-t" deal!! You can get 3 games for as little as $20!
You can also score Connect 4 for FREE! Target has the games for $10. Print a $5 manufacturer (Hasbro) coupon HERE and you can combine it with a $5 Target coupon HERE. That's right ... FREE! Look for the boxes specially marked with a coupon for a FREE Dominoes pizza as well.
Enjoy ... and I'll cool it on the deal posting. If you're interested in finding out about bargains like this and more, subscribe to one (or more) of these blogs:
Deal Seeking Mom
Moneywise Moms
The Prudent Patron
Freebies 4 Mom
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Sweet Deals
I've become a bit of a coupon/bargain geek recently. Its almost like a hobby to see just how good a deal I can get. :)
So, here are a couple deals that I thought were pretty sweet:
Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Diapers - http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2009/10/amazoncom-seventh-generation-diapers-or-training-pants-for-585-per-package.html
And, if you have a little girl into castles (and, really, what little girl isn't?), this is a GREAT deal:
http://www.dealseekingmom.com/playskool-dream-town-sweet-lily-castle-with-dress-up-73-off/
You can make these deals even better if you're earning/saving Amazon gift cards through Swagbucks! That's the easiest free money I've found!
So, here are a couple deals that I thought were pretty sweet:
Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Diapers - http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2009/10/amazoncom-seventh-generation-diapers-or-training-pants-for-585-per-package.html
And, if you have a little girl into castles (and, really, what little girl isn't?), this is a GREAT deal:
http://www.dealseekingmom.com/playskool-dream-town-sweet-lily-castle-with-dress-up-73-off/
You can make these deals even better if you're earning/saving Amazon gift cards through Swagbucks! That's the easiest free money I've found!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Changes in my Kitchen!
I have a favorite new book ... Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon.
Its not for the faint of heart. In fact the subtitle is "The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats." Yeah. Like I said. The subtitle actually had me at hello. Then, I started reading.
This book WILL challenge everything you've always "known" to be true about health, diet, foods, etc. If you don't want to be challenged in that, DO NOT read this book.
Even though its technically a cookbook, much of it reads like a book. Like a research book. And I like research - especially about this topic. It has helped re-invigorate a passion in me for good nutrition and serving my family in that manner.
Many of you know that as a family we made some drastic diet changes back in 2002-2003. We nixed sugar, wheat, corn, cow dairy, soy and others. Then, in Dec 2005, we moved to Iowa. And started homeschooling. And had another baby. And moved again. And again. And, well, I just got lazy in the food department. We still stayed mostly gluten-free and organic at home, but I was very lax when we were out and found myself using more processed foods than I knew I should & I had allowed the sugar to creep back in. Its sort of like exercise. As long as you're in the habit and rhythm, it becomes part of your life. But, when you stop, going back is really hard! Being lazy is just much easier. Or at least it feels that way until you get your butt off the couch and feel the adrenaline rush of regular exercise! (can you tell what I need to do?)
In the last few months, Jordan has developed psoriasis. It took months to even get a diagnosis and now that we have one, we're still not any further ahead. After trying everything in my arsenal of natural remedies, we've resorted to a conventional dermatologist. Anyone that knows me, knows that isn't my preference and certainly not my first choice. But, the biggest part of going the "alternative" route is being responsible for your health. And, frankly, laziness just doesn't jive with that! Besides, there is a time and place for medicine. I don't have a beef with conventional medicine, I have a beef with the OVER-USE of conventional medicine & a beef with anyone being in control of your health except you. But, that's a soapbox for another day.
My point today is that I've decided its worth the effort to take the reigns of my family's health once again. So, what I know to be true is that skin issues=liver issues. I'm not brave enough to try a cleanse on a 9 year old, so that means I need to feed her foods that help the body detox. She's a GREAT eater. But, she ain't THAT great. She is nine, after all. So, we supplement. That's all well and good. But, still, we're not getting ahead of the autoimmune disease.
Then, I get my hands on Nourishing Traditions (NT) and it just rocked my world. I am learning so much! It is overwhelming in many ways, but much of it lines up with what I've been researching lately. Especially with regard to soaked and sprouted grains. I've been grinding my own grain (!!) and while I haven't made soaked or sprouted grain bread yet, I have made soaked pancakes, flatbread and granola bars. All yummy and big hits with the kids. I won't lie. Its really time-consuming. I've spent a lot of time in the kitchen lately. But, I'm quickly figuring out how to plan and streamline it all. Planning is really the key. I've pretty much always had some sort of menu plan, now that plan just requires a little more planning! LOL! For example, to make the soaked flatbread, you have to have yogurt (which takes a full day to make), plus grind wheat & mix with the yogurt and let that soak for 24 hours ... then, you roll out the dough! Even though its basically a 3-day process, it doesn't require any extensive amount of time on any one day. Its just the PLANNING that's important!
NT is not about being gluten or dairy free ... or free of anything necessarily. Its about eating the foods that are good for our bodies in ways that our bodies can use. There are many recipes and most of them are time-consuming. Some of them are downright daunting. I said its not for the faint of heart. Its also not for the time-crunched. I know that probably doesn't "sell" you on the book, but I'm just calling it like I see it. Everything in life is a trade-off and the changes I'm making in my kitchen are worth it for our family in this season. That may or may not be the case for your family.
Here's the irony of this book. About half-way through, I dug out some of the diet stuff I'd gotten from my midwife in Iowa (remember the food-nazi?). Guess the ONE book she recommended? Yup. I just wasn't ready then. Now I am. At the end of the day, that's what it takes. She planted the seed and God watered it in His time. So maybe I've planted the seed for you! :)
Its not for the faint of heart. In fact the subtitle is "The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats." Yeah. Like I said. The subtitle actually had me at hello. Then, I started reading.
This book WILL challenge everything you've always "known" to be true about health, diet, foods, etc. If you don't want to be challenged in that, DO NOT read this book.
Even though its technically a cookbook, much of it reads like a book. Like a research book. And I like research - especially about this topic. It has helped re-invigorate a passion in me for good nutrition and serving my family in that manner.
Many of you know that as a family we made some drastic diet changes back in 2002-2003. We nixed sugar, wheat, corn, cow dairy, soy and others. Then, in Dec 2005, we moved to Iowa. And started homeschooling. And had another baby. And moved again. And again. And, well, I just got lazy in the food department. We still stayed mostly gluten-free and organic at home, but I was very lax when we were out and found myself using more processed foods than I knew I should & I had allowed the sugar to creep back in. Its sort of like exercise. As long as you're in the habit and rhythm, it becomes part of your life. But, when you stop, going back is really hard! Being lazy is just much easier. Or at least it feels that way until you get your butt off the couch and feel the adrenaline rush of regular exercise! (can you tell what I need to do?)
In the last few months, Jordan has developed psoriasis. It took months to even get a diagnosis and now that we have one, we're still not any further ahead. After trying everything in my arsenal of natural remedies, we've resorted to a conventional dermatologist. Anyone that knows me, knows that isn't my preference and certainly not my first choice. But, the biggest part of going the "alternative" route is being responsible for your health. And, frankly, laziness just doesn't jive with that! Besides, there is a time and place for medicine. I don't have a beef with conventional medicine, I have a beef with the OVER-USE of conventional medicine & a beef with anyone being in control of your health except you. But, that's a soapbox for another day.
My point today is that I've decided its worth the effort to take the reigns of my family's health once again. So, what I know to be true is that skin issues=liver issues. I'm not brave enough to try a cleanse on a 9 year old, so that means I need to feed her foods that help the body detox. She's a GREAT eater. But, she ain't THAT great. She is nine, after all. So, we supplement. That's all well and good. But, still, we're not getting ahead of the autoimmune disease.
Then, I get my hands on Nourishing Traditions (NT) and it just rocked my world. I am learning so much! It is overwhelming in many ways, but much of it lines up with what I've been researching lately. Especially with regard to soaked and sprouted grains. I've been grinding my own grain (!!) and while I haven't made soaked or sprouted grain bread yet, I have made soaked pancakes, flatbread and granola bars. All yummy and big hits with the kids. I won't lie. Its really time-consuming. I've spent a lot of time in the kitchen lately. But, I'm quickly figuring out how to plan and streamline it all. Planning is really the key. I've pretty much always had some sort of menu plan, now that plan just requires a little more planning! LOL! For example, to make the soaked flatbread, you have to have yogurt (which takes a full day to make), plus grind wheat & mix with the yogurt and let that soak for 24 hours ... then, you roll out the dough! Even though its basically a 3-day process, it doesn't require any extensive amount of time on any one day. Its just the PLANNING that's important!
NT is not about being gluten or dairy free ... or free of anything necessarily. Its about eating the foods that are good for our bodies in ways that our bodies can use. There are many recipes and most of them are time-consuming. Some of them are downright daunting. I said its not for the faint of heart. Its also not for the time-crunched. I know that probably doesn't "sell" you on the book, but I'm just calling it like I see it. Everything in life is a trade-off and the changes I'm making in my kitchen are worth it for our family in this season. That may or may not be the case for your family.
Here's the irony of this book. About half-way through, I dug out some of the diet stuff I'd gotten from my midwife in Iowa (remember the food-nazi?). Guess the ONE book she recommended? Yup. I just wasn't ready then. Now I am. At the end of the day, that's what it takes. She planted the seed and God watered it in His time. So maybe I've planted the seed for you! :)
Life in Pictures
Some recent pictures of the goings-on around the Sustala Home ...
We've had some beautiful weather the past couple weeks, so we took a bunch of pictures one afternoon outside. Here are a few...
Jace, Jake Jordan, Jadyn
.JPG)
Trampoline fun
Jace climbing up to the slide
Jordan being silly
Jadyn enjoying a popsicle
Jake - not terribly interested in stopping for a photo
Jadyn again ... I have a gazillion of her.She loves the camera. Loves posing.
Loves being in the "spotlight" and
being the center of attention.
All the world is her runway ...
The camera loves her, too!
And, on other days ...
And, on other days ...Is this Jadyn again?
Jace loves to climb on everything! He is a busy boy! He climbed on the coffee table, looked at me proudly and wagged his finger, saying "no, no!" At least he knows the rules. Never mind obeying them!
One benefit of a busy boy ... he sleeps! And, if mama doesn't get you down for a nap, the living room floor works just fine!
*I realized as I uploaded my pictures that Jace is wearing the same outfit in every picture despite the fact they were taken on different days! What can I say? He 'suffers' from "number-four-itis."*
We had a garage sale last weekend and I toyed with the idea of getting rid of this mirror. But, after some thought, I decided it could be cute in Jadyn's room ...
.JPG)
...if we glammed it up a bit! We just mod podged some paper and hot glued some sparkly beads! She loves it and she loved helping me fix it up! I wish I had painted the wood and iron, but I took the quick way out. I can always go back and do those (the hard way).
Hair bow-Palooza: When I was making hair bows for Jordan's birthday party, I also whipped some up for Kylie and Jadyn. Jordan's decided she's not as hip on them as she once was, preferring instead to go the headband route ... or nothing at all {gasp!}
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Jordan's BD Party
I'm nearly a month late in posting this ... but, as "they" say, better late than never, right?
Jordan invited her cousins to a bowling party for her birthday. We had so much fun! I totally copied this idea (thanks, Shea!) from a birthday party Jake went to a while back. I made T-shirts for each of the kids. 
I had to girly it up a bit with matching hairbows!
Then, I used the bows as ribbons on their gift bags. 
I had to girly it up a bit with matching hairbows! Then, I used the bows as ribbons on their gift bags. Bowling has become Jordan's favorite game on the Wii and she's actually pretty good. She liked real-life bowling just as much, but let's just say her score was a tad lower! Even with bumpers! :)
Friday, October 16, 2009
Buddy Walk 2009
We would love for YOU to join Jordan's team "Journey with Jordan" to help us support our beautiful girl and help raise awareness about Down Syndrome!
Go to our team page HERE and register. The first 15 people to sign up will receive a button to wear at the walk. We will also have *something* (read: I-don't-know-what-yet) to help our team look cohesive and stand out! (ideas??)
If you can't join us at the walk in person, you can still support JOURNEY WITH JORDAN as a Team Donor.
This is the only event we participate in with the Down Syndrome community. We think education, research and awareness are all important to one day having a system that will allow people with Down Syndrome to lead completely 'normal' lives - void of the medical, mental, social and neurological issues many deal with. Jordan struggles every day to learn things that come easily to "typical" children. I am so proud of the hard work she puts in, mentally and physically, but I also look forward to the day when it won't be such a struggle for kids like her & parents like us. I believe that day will come and I appreciate your support and help in getting us there!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
I Looove it!
I have plenty of catching up to do ... but couldn't resist a quick post to share this wonderful quote found at Adventures of a Somewhat Crunchy Mama:
"Stop saying that my kid is shy, outgoing, aggressive, anxious, quiet, boisterous, argumentative, pouty, fidgety, chatty, whiny or loud because he's homeschooled. It's not fair that all the kids who go to public school can be as annoying as they want to without being branded as representative of anything but childhood."
I loooove it!!!
"Stop saying that my kid is shy, outgoing, aggressive, anxious, quiet, boisterous, argumentative, pouty, fidgety, chatty, whiny or loud because he's homeschooled. It's not fair that all the kids who go to public school can be as annoying as they want to without being branded as representative of anything but childhood."
I loooove it!!!
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