The Mom With Brownies

MY TOP 10 CHRISTMAS WISH LIST AND DRAGON COUPON CODES

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:47:00 +0000

I haven't made my top 10 wish list yet this year. The time has gone by so quickly with the bedroom renovation and shopping for the boys. It's December and I need to pop this up here so my friends and family will have ideas! :o) tee hee...

1. Dragon Naturally Speaking System so I can blog faster.
2. Reloaded Starbucks Gift Card to keep me awake.
3. New socks to keep my tootsies warm while I blog.
4. A few new music disks to set the blogging mood.
5. A large supply of Mountain Dew for those days when something cold is in order.
6. A quite click mouse so I don't wake my hubby while posting those late night posts. My computer is in our room now so the quieter the better.
7. New bedroom window curtains so I can see the bright sunny day.
8. A new bedroom suite so I have a more comfy place to relax after a hard day of blogging.
9. A headset for the television so the boys can watch tv beside me, quietly, while I blog.
10. A HUGE iron picnic table for our yard so I can blog about how our family can now have an outdoor picnic at one table instead of spreading out to separate tables.

#1 is something I would very much like to have. I would like to have the Dragon Naturally Speaking System. Brisan has used Dragon Naturally Speaking and it is amazing. Basically we just speak into a headset and the words are typed as we say them. It is excellent for allowing reluctant writers to express their thoughts without worrying about handwriting neatness or spelling.

I would be able to speak right into the microphone to "type" my blogs. I sometimes think quicker than my fingers can type. Once the thought has passed by my brain it may never be found again. Just think of all the Brownie Thoughts that have gone unrecorded because of this! :o) If you are going to grab this for me Brian, here are some Coupon Codes to pad our wallet a little. :o)

$50 Coupon Code- DNSMSBG -Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred

$25 Coupon Code- DNSMSBG -Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 Standard

$25 Coupon Code- DNSMSBG -MacSpeech Dictate

So, there's my blogging wish list. Shall I make a personal wish list? Ah, I like to be surprised...but I wouldn't turn down a Brownie!

CHRISTMAS BROWNIES!

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:17:00 +0000

Alrighty, here is a Christmas Brownie that is sure to be a hit on any Dessert table. The NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE SWIRLED Morsels are only available to purchase October through December. Go grab some while they are in stores. Here is the recipe. Happy Eating! :o)

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Ingredients:

3/4 cup NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Baking Cocoa

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter or margarine

1 2/3 cups granulated sugar

2 tablespoons water

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 2/3 cups (10-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® SWIRLED™ Holiday Morsels, divided

2 cups thawed, frozen whipped topping

Directions:
PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease 13 x 9-inch baking pan.

COMBINE flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Microwave butter in large, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 1 minute; stir until melted. Stir in sugar and water. Stir in eggs and vanilla extract. Gradually stir in flour mixture. Stir in 1 cup morsels. Spread into prepared baking pan.

BAKE for 18 to 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out slightly sticky. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Spread with whipped topping. Sprinkle with remaining morsels. Refrigerate until serving time. Cut into bars.

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Thanks AK Mom for this award! :o)

TODAY'S FRUGAL FIND: GIFTS FOR UNDER $25

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:06:00 +0000

Today's Frugal find was found at Kmart of all places. I have recently rediscovered Kmart and have to say that I am pleasantly surprised at the quality of the merchandise that my frugal heart so desires. This year I've noticed that Kmart is responding to our biggest influence in buying holiday gifts this year...PRICE! I was very excited to find out that Kmart recently unveiled over 25,000 gifts priced UNDER $25.00! They are coveted brands such as Craftsman®, Celebrations by Radko™, Martha Stewart Everyday and so much more. We can again be "Kmart smart" shoppers just like back in the day when we roamed the store awaiting that blue light special, except now we need not roam, we get to go in, grab and go!

I found a statement from Kmart CMO Mark Snyder recently. Because I've seen his words put into action I want to share them with you.

“For more than 100 years, families have turned to Kmart for quality products at prices they can afford. This year more than ever, our customers are conscious about their spending. And through our extensive savings, our layaway program and no payments, no interest for six months, we continue to provide the value and savings to make this holiday season shine for all.”

Our tried and true store is rising to the needs of our wallet. We can sign up to receive the latest Kmart news via e-mail that includes updates on special store hours, in-store deals and online-only sales to find the best value during our holiday shopping. So, I'm off to check out the Joe Boxer cozy sleep sets for $12.99 and Leap Frog Leapster games. I've got a tad more shopping to do! Kmart.com Here I Come! :o)

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE: SCIENCE POSTCARDS FOR ELEMENTARY AGED CHILDREN

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:04:00 +0000

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE IS...

Science Postcards

This is a fun way to engage kids in science projects that tie into books they will read. The child will read one of the recommended books and then you send a Science Postcard to the child with the book theme. When the child receives the postcard, the student can do a science activity that relates to the book. You'll have to download and print the Science Postcard.

There are eight, free science postcards and activities. They are as follows.

1) Book Title: Cork on the Ocean
Science Activity: "Traffic Light Straws" (Density)

2) Book Title: Duck in the Truck
Science Activity: "Science Friction" (Forces)

3) Book Title: Sidewalk Circus
Science Activity: "Shadow Secrets" (Light)

4) Book Title: The King's Bubbles
Science Activity: "Bubble Magic" (Forces)

5) Book Title: Tarawera's Pink Terrace Children Science Activity: "Fiery
Eruptions" (Volcanoes)

6) Book Title: Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant Science Activity: "Flight
for Life" (Seeds)

7) Book Title: Ruby Sings the Blues
Science Activity: "No to Noise" (Sound)

8) Book Title: Bright Star
Science Activity: Moon Strike (Space)

All of the Science Postcards are available for free. You will need to register but, again it is free.

HAPPY FREE HOMESCHOOING!

SEARS IS HELPING MILITARY FAMILIES

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:20:00 +0000

Today I heard about Sears Heroes at Home Wish Registry. It is an amazing effort put forth by Sears to help the families of military heroes make critical repairs to their homes. I had never really put much thought into what it takes to upkeep a house. My husband takes care of the roofing, wiring and sidewalks. It hit me, when I read the Sears website that many women have a family to care for AND a house to care for when their husbands are away at war.

That is too much to handle when you are worried every day that a knock my be looming on the front door. Sure, the war heroes come home for small little visits but that time is meant to spend reuniting with their family, not repairing a roof! The men and women are gone for years at a time with very little leave time. Who wants to come home to their family only to spend the precious moments back home working on the house?

If you have a few bucks to donate to the Sears Heroes at Home Wish Registry head over there and help our military families. They need it now more than ever.

I ADMIT IT

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:15:00 +0000

Alright, I admit it. I have bought Christmas and Birthday presents for my children that were educational. Vinze has gotten more bug exhibits and ant farms then I care to admit. Kazz and Brise have gotten quite a few "board games" that were spelling and reasoning education in disguise.

I think homeschooling parents have a gene specifically designed to be frugal and educational at the same time. Mixing presents with education fits nicely into that personality trait. And if we can get the item on sale....We're good for the year!

I don't know why...But I don't even feel bad about it. *sigh*

TODAY'S FRUGAL FIND: CHARTER CABLE, TV & PHONE BUNDLE DEAL

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:54:00 +0000

Here's a holiday deal for those shopping for a Cable, TV and Phone bundle deal. With purchase of the bundle deal we get a $250 Gift card and a chance to win an X-Box 360 game console!

This page details information to buy Charter’s Ultimate Bundle or any of the Charter Services sold separately, including Charter High-Speed® Internet, Charter Digital Home™ and Charter Telephone™.

One Charter service is only $25, two Charter services are only $75, and three Charter Services can be bought for only $150. With the bundle service of three, we get a $250 gift card and are automatically entered to win 1 of 45 X-Box 360 Game consoles. This is an amazing online Holiday Deal, who needs Black Friday?!

Click here for complete X-Box Sweepstakes Rules.

With Charter Communications Ultimate Service Bundle for $165.97 and you get:

High Speed:
10 Mbps High Speed

TV:
Digital Home
Charter HD
Sports View
Digital View
HBO/Cinemax
Starz/Encore
Showtime/The Movie Channel

Phone:
Unlimited Calling

There's my frugal find for today! Happy Shopping!

TECHNORATI EXPERIMENT HAS ENDED

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:00:00 +0000

UPDATE: With every experiment there is a conclusion. This one ends with the knowledge that Technorati does NOT like this kind of activity. They have asked me to discontinue this experiment. I have agreed. This experiment ends today. Thank you to all who jumped on board.

--------------------------

I'm starting a Technorati Challenge Experiment! It's pretty basic and straight forward. If you want to join from the beginning to get maximum results, here is your chance! :o)

1. Copy The Code Below into a blog post on your blog(s).

<a href="http://www.icantbelievemylife.com/2008/11/technorati-challenge-experiment.html"></a>Technorati Challenge Experiment! It's pretty basic and straight forward. If you want to join from the beginning to get maximum results, here is your chance! :o) 1. Copy The List Below into a blog post on your blog(s). Don't forget to comment on Brownie Mom's <a href="http://www.icantbelievemylife.com/2008/11/technorati-challenge-experiment.html">Original post!</a> 2. Add Your Link(s) To The List on your website. 3. Comment On <a href="http://www.icantbelievemylife.com/2008/11/technorati-challenge-experiment.html">This Post</a> stating the blog address(es) you want listed so Brownie Mom can update the list to include your link(s). 4. Watch Your Authority Rise! 1. <a href="http://www.icantbelievemylife.com/">THE MOM WITH BROWNIES </a> 2. <a href="http://www.ourhighschoolhomeschool.blogspot.com/">Our High School Homeschool</a> 3. <a href="http://www.iamthebigdog.com/" target="_blank">THE BIG DOG</a> 4. <a href="http://www.iwillblogforever.blogspot.com/">ARE YOU PART OF THE SERIOUS BLOGGER ADlog?</a>5. <a href="http://thoughtsfromthefrontporch.blogspot.com/">Thoughts From The Front Porch</a>6. <a href="http://karensopinion.com/">My Opinion Counts</a>7. <a href="http://www.chatbugkaren.com/">The Pond</a>8. <a href="http://yourfunfamily.blogspot.com/">Your Fun Family</a>9. <a href="http://1stopmom.com/">1stopmom</a>10. <a href="http://www.juicyalligator.com/juicy-blog.html">Juicy Alligator</a>11. <a href="http://couponqueenofcorning.today.com/">Coupon Queen of Corning</a>12. <a href="http://real-life-star.blogspot.com/">Life Of A Star</a>13. <a href="http://www.thelifeofamom.com/">The Life Of A Mom</a> 14. <a href="http://www.notjustamomsite.com/">Not Just A Mom Site</a>15. <a href="http://reddahliainbloom.blogspot.com/">Red Dahlia in Bloom</a>16. <a href="http://lyndonology.com/">Lyndonology</a>17. <a href="http://allarkiearmy.blogspot.com/">All Arkie Army</a>18. <a href="http://naturalhawg.blogspot.com/">The Natural State Hawg</a>19. <a href="http://thehealthymoms.blogspot.com/">Healthy Moms</a>20. <a href="http://www.idiotonastick.com/talk">Idiot On A Stick</a>21. <a href="http://ourdangerousboys.blogspot.com/">Our 5 Dangerous Boys</a>22. <a href="http://reddahliainbloom.blogspot.com/">Red Dahlia in Bloom</a>23. <a href="http://sojournersplace.blogspot.com/">Sojourner's Place</a>24. <a href="http://sojournersplace.today.com/">Sojourner's Place, 2</a>25. <a href="http://thehelpinghand-sjp.blogspot.com/">The Emblem of the Helping Hand</a>26. <a href="http://moblog.today.com/">Moblog</a> 27. <a href="http://pennyraine.com/blog">Penny Raine</a> 28. <a href="http://rodneyolsen.net/">Rodney Olsen</a> 29. <a href="http://moneymaker-funnykidsstories.blogspot.com/">Funny Kids Stories</a> 30. <a href="http://www.thekerrieshow.blogspot.com/">The Kerrie Show</a> 31. <a href="http://www.bigdadgib.net/">Live Walk and Drive by Faith</a> 32. <a href="http://mattharmless.blogspot.com/">Harmless Thoughts</a> 33.<a href="http://pawpawhollerhome.blogspot.com/">PawPaw Holler Home</a> 34. <a href="http://www.thepinkflamingoblog.com/">The Pink Flamingo</a>

Don't forget to comment on Brownie Mom's Original post!

HOLIDAY SHOPPING FOR YOUR SPECIAL HUNTER

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:03:00 +0000

The Nikon Black Friday Promo is here! There's a mind-blowing Black Friday Promotion from Nikon Sport Optics, NikonProGear and NikonHunting.com this year with a special presentation from Lee & Tiffany Lakosky!

The Ultimate Hunter's Package contains:

-ProStaff 3-9x40 Riflescope with BDC Reticle
-ProStaff Laser Rangefinder
-Silent Technology Rangefinder Case
-Mastering a Long-range shot with BDC DVD
-$50 NikonProGear Gift Card

All these come together in a great package, saving $144.90 on high quality hunting equipment. Also, If you’re looking for a high-quality, rugged binoculars, Nikon Sport Optics has got something for you – for a limited time only, get an extra $20 off on Nikon Action Extreme ATB 10x50 Binoculars!

Just for the Black Friday Promotion, Nikon and NikonProGear.com are expanding the Gift Card Promotion ($25 and $50 value) to include all of the following products –

Nikon Monarch Binoculars,
Trailblazer Binoculars,
Nikon Action 10x50 Binoculars
and ANY Nikon ATB Binoculars.

Plus you can get special holiday prices on ProStaff Riflescopes, Nikon Monarch Rifle Scopes, Buckmasters and Omega Riflescopes! Well, you can't beat that with a stick! Happy Holiday Shopping!

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE: MAKE & PRINT FLASHCARDS FOR FREE

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:01:00 +0000

When I was in college I used flashcards to study for tests. They are a beautiful thing. I would hand write the vast amounts of information from my notes and books into small, little bite sized chunks. I would then flash those buggers till the cows came home. The ones I knew went in one pile and the ones I didn't have down pat went into the other. Only when I could rattle answers off willy-nilly was I ready to stop studying.

It was nothing at all for me to have hundreds of flashcards wrapped in blocks with rubber bands when all was said and done with a course. I credit those flashcard information bites as the main reason why I could memorize vast amounts of knowledge and graduate with honors.

Needless to say, I've passed that study skill on to our son who is now in college. He writes and writes and then I flash those cards at gun until his eyes cross. But, he hit the College Dean's List at the age of 15 and has never looked back so it's not in vain. :o)

I've said all that to say, I would have paid a small fortune to be able to EASILY type up and print flashcards. Sure I tried it but I could never get the things to print so that I could fold, cut and flash. Well, lo and behold my son sure can.

Here is the FREE flashcard generator. Print them on a thicker stock paper and your work is half done. Just zip a little glue down the middle before you fold and then cut. Voila! Easy, peasy!

HAPPY FREE HOMESCHOOLING...I MEAN STUDYING!

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE: HOW ALUMINUM IS MADE

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:16:00 +0000

Today's Homeschoool Freebie Virtual Field Trip to...

Alcoa: It All Starts With Dirt

Visit the "It All Starts With Dirt" Web site

Alcoa's founders discovered how to make pure aluminum and created a new industry the world over. Explore the amazing process of turning a four-ton truckload of dirt into a ton of aluminum.
enter site
download a printable brochure

"Alcoa Can't Wait"
In the mid 70's, Alcoa commissioned a theme song for radio and TV advertising that was full of hope for a brighter future. Today, the 'Tomorrow' that we sang about back then is coming true — and we still can't wait for what's next!

Alcoa's history (timeline)
Click below for a brief, interactive overview of Alcoa's first 120 years.

go

See how aluminum is made
View a three-minute video that shows the complete aluminum production process.
go

MY VISTAPRINT PACKAGE ARRIVED! WHOO HOO!

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 19:59:00 +0000

I got my Christmas package from VistaPrint! I was so excited to go to my mailbox yesterday because the arrival of that package meant that I'm almost finished with Christmas shopping! Whoo Hoo!

Dad you have to stop reading now! :p

I personalized a T-Shirt from VistaPrint for my dad. I was able to easily put a phrase on it that my dad always says and also add a picture of him with all the "Bannister Boys." I also received our personalized return address labels and a calendar for my mom that highlights 12 of our favorite family pictures from this past year. For the boys I got some calendar magnets with a picture of all the "Bannister Cousins" proudly displayed. Oh yes, my mom's going to cry! tee hee... She loves personalized gifts that include pictures of her grand-children. Look how cute Daxx and Kole are in the picture for their birthday month. :o)

The fun part about the t-shirt I got for dad is that I got to use one of his sayings on the t-shirt. I call his sayings, "Dadisms." He's always saying something around the house that only family would understand. The one I chose is the funny one he uses to end a topic of conversation that has gone on for way too long. When there is nothing more to say about a subject or if a conversation has taken an awkward turn, he will stand up, sigh a big sigh and walk away saying loudly, "Welllll, All I know is... It takes a big dog to weigh a ton!" When we hear that we all know it's time to get up and work or get on with the day because there's been enough chatting going on. LOL

There is still time to grab some of the fun items from VistaPrint for your family Christmas. It's super easy to upload family pictures to be used for the calendars and other gifts. You know you have at least one person in your life who will blubber like a baby when they see their favorite family picture displayed under the Christmas wrapping paper.

Family and Friends are the best part of Christmas right?! Oh! If you want to crack up a kid brother or sister, be sure to make a character representation of them on the site to display on a hat or t-shirt. They even have earphones to put on the characters. I know we all have a kid in our life who fits that picture! I used it for Brise and I put a halo over Daxx's head because well...you know! LOL

CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW OUR DANCE & CREATE YOUR OWN

DO YOU LOVE CHILDREN? DO YOU WANT MORE?

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:52:00 +0000

There are children waiting to be adopted in each and every state of our country. If you want children you can have them. You can choose what race will fit your family dynamic. You can choose what age fits into your home best. You can choose to take in just boys or just girls. You have all the power right there in your own hands to become a loving parent to children who really need loving parents.

If you aren't a "baby" mom then guess what, you can skip the infant stage! (Yes, I am holding my hand high and admitting that infancy is not my favorite parenting stage) You can ask for children who are already finished with bottles so you can get right to the nurturing, sharing, talking, listening part of parenting.

Are you ready to take the first step?

However, if you do want a baby, you can have a baby. You don't even have to wait a long time to get one. You can have a baby in a few months if you really do want one. I'm writing this in November so If you are reading this in November you could easily have a child in your home by April or May. Just think! That's quicker than if you baked one yourself!

If you want to fill your life with a child or children, you can surely handle foster parenting or adopting a child who is already waiting in the system. If you are worried that you will become attached then I hope you do become a foster parent. YOU are the kind of parent those children need! They NEED people who will love them, care for them, impact their lives with love so they will know what it is when they see it. What is more, YOU will be utterly surprised at how much you need them. You will learn from them and be humbled by them. Yes, even the troubled children teach us so much about ourselves, our perceptions, our misunderstandings. YOU can do something powerful with your life. You get one go round in this world. YOU have the power to live it in an amazing way!

Sure you will get attached and Yes, you will love them like crazy but I tell you, if their parents do what it takes to turn things around then you will be happy to see them go home with their family. And If their birth parents do not do what it takes, then you get the overwhelming blessing and honor to KEEP the children as God's molded family. Isn't that a risk you hand handle? Can't you handle parenting in the hope that your actions will impact some children in this world for the better? Will you be able to handle the fact that you will also learn, grow and become a more well rounded human for having been touched by these children?

If you are wondering whether you are eligible, just read the questions and answers below.

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Who can Foster or Adopt?

You do not have to be married to foster or adopt a child or children. Many children will thrive in a single parent home.
You do not need to own your own home. A rented home or apartment is fine, as long as there is adequate bedroom space per child. The home must be free from health and fire hazards, and must have a safe play area for children.
You do not need to be rich to adopt or be a foster parent. Even if you receive some type of financial assistance, you are still eligible to provide foster care or adopt as long as you have resources to provide for your family.

Anyone applying to foster or adopt must meet the following qualifications:

Be 18 years of age or older.
Be of good moral character.
Be willing to provide care for children who are in foster care.
Understand the care which must be provided to the children, or express a willingness to learn how to provide that care.
Have enough time to provide care and supervision for the children.
Have a specific source of income, and be capable of managing that income, to meet the needs of the family.
Be of such physical, mental, and emotional health to be able to properly care for the children.
Be able to assure the proper care and safety of children.
Be willing to comply with the licensing rules.

If you have a spouse or live-in-partner, they will also be required to participate in the homestudy process as well as attend the P.R.I.D.E. (Parent Resources for Information, Development and Education) training series with you.

Does it Cost to Foster or Adopt?

When working with a local DHS office to adopt a child from the Michigan Foster Care System, the family is not charged for the home assessment process.

Some private agencies will require a home assessment fee. However, once the family adopts a child from the foster care system in Michigan, the family must be reimbursed that fee by the agency for a Michigan child. If the family adopts a child from another state’s foster care system, that family may be reimbursed through that State’s Nonrecurring Adoption Expenses. Also, if a child in foster care is also eligible for subsidy, then the adoptive family may be eligible for reimbursement of limited nonrecurring adoption-related costs.

Yes, you can adopt a child who is waiting in foster care in any state in the U.S.

SIBLINGS WAITING TO BE ADOPTED...waiting...still waiting

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:56:00 +0000

These girls are waiting around right now for a "Mom and a dad" That's what they want. Click Here to see the video.

Here is their profile.

About Damara and Tianna:

Damara and Tianna are energetic and fun-loving twin sisters who say, "The best thing about being twins is that we finish each others sentences, and people get us mixed up all the time!" (But they also say that being mistaken for each other can be one of the most difficult things too!) Damara presents herself as strong-willed and independent; however, she does like attention and affection from caregivers. She enjoys swimming, cheerleading and soccer, and also likes collecting Beanie Babies and baby dolls. Tianna thrives on attention from others but also likes to assert her independence. Like her sister, she also enjoys swimming and cheerleading, and she loves to eat pizza and McDonald's food. Damara and Tianna can both like animals and especially enjoy dressing up their pet dogs! They love to laugh and act silly and they can also be very polite and respectful toward adults. Damara and Tianna are very attached to each other and despite typical sibling rivalry, they want and need to be placed together for adoption.

Damara and Tianna are dealing with hurts and disappointments from their past but want to be part of a permanent family. They enjoy school and get along well with peers and teachers, but due to a chaotic past, they may need assistance in some subject areas to help them reach their full academic potential.

Damara and Tianna would prefer a two-parent family who is "nice" and who will love and accept them as their own. They might like to have dogs of their own and would be open to having a few other children in the home.

Click here to inquire about them.

Oh and here are more...Click the picture to see video and read more.

Nicholas, Irida, Ziah & Christina

MEREDITH, MICHAEL, TAYLOR AND ANTHONY

JONAH, ASHLEY & JACOB

ARE YOU GIVING A CELL PHONE TO YOUR CHILD FOR CHRISTMAS: DOWNLOAD FREE RINGTONES!

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 03:11:00 +0000

We all know what our teens want for Christmas. They want a cell phone! If they already have a cell phone then they want a NEW cell phone. Why? Because they are getting three gifts in one box. They are getting an music player, camera and a phone all at one time.

If you are new to the whole cell phone idea for your child, you need to know that they WILL want to download ringtones. Now, you can do this the easy way or you can do this the hard way. The hard way costs money. The easy way...doesn't. You'll need to get to a free website that will work with the phone provider you've chosen. For instance, we have Verizon so we need to find free Verizon ringtones or we're out of luck.

I am going to make this easy for you because you read this blog and that's my job! I'm one frugal gal and I love to pass on the frugal sickness to you! :o) To download free ringtones just click the links in this post that pertain to your service plan. and Voila you and your teen are happy campers.

If your need free Sprint ringtones you're in luck. There are many to choose from and they can be found rather quickly.

To find free t-mobile ringtones just click the big flashing button and to download free at&t ringtones do the same.

It doesn't get any easier than that! Happy Free Ringtone Downloading! :o)

RANDOM THOUGHTS AS THEY PASS BY

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 02:51:00 +0000

Can we help the poor by destroying the rich? Can we strengthen the weak by weakening the strong? Can we bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift? Can we lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down? Can we further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred? Can we build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence? Can we help men permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves?

I found those words online today. They can be summed up nicely by the phrase,
"Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime."

Somehow, some way, this economy has to turn around. I don't know how many more friends I can watch lose it all because of layoffs. I'm watching the new congress and elected officials closely. I just don't know how it will all pan out.

My grandpa was a staunch Democrat but after Roe Vs. Wade we all became staunch Republicans. I have to admit, I never did think the Dems had the right idea by practicing the "Robin Hood" idea. But, if it works I'll be the first to thank them.

GIFT IDEA: PHOTO FRAME CHANGES AS YOU SEND PICS FROM YOUR PHONE OR COMPUTER

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 02:07:00 +0000

Well, I just got back from sitting on Santa's lap. He's in the virtual world now and is much easier to see than when I had to stand in line at the mall with all of my children. I wanted to enter his Got a Wish Sweeepstakes to see if I could win one of the cool new, virtual photo frames that he has to offer.

The CEIVA frame is different than other digital photo frames because you can actually send pictures to it from your computer or cell phone. My parents in Kentucky can look over at their frame and see a picture I sent to them from Michigan. Is that not the coolest thing you've ever heard of for a Christmas gift!?

What's better than pictures of the grand-kids when you are a grand-parent? Uh, Nothing! There's your gift idea for your parents and your in-laws. See, you knew you came here for something! LOL

If you win the sweepstakes let me know. There will be 29 winners chosen randomly from the entry selected for each day of the contest. The cash prize is $500 per winner. Good Luck! But not too much luck because I'm totally entering too! :o)

STUFFED PUMPKIN FOR THANKSGIVING

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:36:00 +0000

Oh My Goodness! Yummy yuuuummmmyyyy...

I hope you have video capabilities. You HAVE to watch this recipe. Oh My goodness... My mouth is watering like crazy.

Here is the Recipe
(Click HERE for the video.)

Swiss Chard Gratin

Recipe courtesy of Daniel Boulud

Yield: 6-8 servings

Ingredients:

6 pounds of Swiss chard
2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
¼ cup minced onion
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
2½ cups warm milk
3 teaspoons Daniel Boulud's Thanksgiving Spice Blend
½ cup shredded Gruyère cheese
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and place a bowl of ice water on the side. Separate the Swiss chard leaves from the stems, and reserve half of the stems; rinse well. Boil the Swiss chard leaves until tender;remove with a slotted spoon and chill in the ice water. Strain well by wrapping in cheesecloth or a clean dish towel and wringing out the liquid; then chop roughly. Cut the reserved Swiss chard stems into thin slices.

In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, add the olive oil, garlic, onion, sliced Swiss chard stems and one teaspoon of Thanksgiving Spice Blend and cook, stirring until tender. Stir in the cooked Swiss chard leaves to combine.

In a separate small pot over medium-low heat, add the butter, flour and 1 teaspoon of Thanksgiving Spice Blend. Cook, stirring with a whisk for 2-3 minutes, being careful not to brown the butter. Gradually whisk in the warm milk. Continue to cook, whisking, for 3 minutes to make a bechamel sauce. Transfer the bechamel into the pot with the Swiss chard, and stir to combine; season with salt and pepper to taste.

Transfer to a small gratin dish or ovenproof baking pan. Sprinkle evenly with the grated Parmesan and Gruyere cheeses, and the remaining teaspoon of Thanksgiving spice blend and bake 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown.

Mamma Mia! Mwwwwhaaahh

YOWZA! IT'S A THANKSGIVING SALE AT SEARS!

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:59:00 +0000

I do believe that frugal moms have one thing in mind this holiday season and that is getting the best deal on every single purchase we make! I too love a good sale, so of course, I'm going to pass on my Thanksgiving finds to anyone and everyone I happen to pass on the street...or blog.

I hope you enjoy the deals this season and pass on the cheer to those around you too!

The best time to get savings is during the holiday season and Guess What Time It Is?! It's time for the Sears Pre-Thanksgiving Sale! They have stocked their shelves, taken prices down and are ready to hand over the deals to those of us who have economic value on our mind this year.

Here are just a few of the amazing deals we can find at Sears this season!

We can now get 15% cash back after mail-in rebate on all appliances over $499. The Sony 7.2-megapixel digital camera is also up for grabs for only $129.99 after $50 instant savings. I saw a silver one and a black one on their site. I would love to get this for a friend of mine. She wants to blog but cannot do it the way she wants, because she needs a digital camera. Everywhere I looked on the Sears site I found items that made me think of this person and that person. If you have a hard-to-buy-for person in your life, I suggest checking out Sears.com You'll know the gift for them the moment you see it. Enjoy!

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE: PRINTABLE RULERS

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:34:00 +0000

TODAY'S HOMESCHOOL FREEBIE IS...

PRINTABLE RULERS ONLINE

Today I could not find a ruler anywhere so I headed over to my handy-dandy computer and found a printable one! Vinze was able to finish his homework and I was able to stay in our cozy warm home, instead of running to the store for the umpteenth time to replace our ruler reserves.

It was a handy little bugger so I 'm passing it on to you!

HAPPY FREE MEASURING!

WHEN CAN I BECOME A TRAVEL BLOGGER?

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:18:00 +0000

I can only imagine how nice life would be to work as a Travel blogger like
Larry the Travel Guy. I didn't even know this type of job existed. My parents always told me that the secret to finding happiness in a career is to find something I love to do and then figure out how to make money doing it.

Well, I sure would like to have a free trip to New Zealand. If I blog about it, like Larry, will I make money doing it?

How do I make that kind of dream become a reality. God knows, our homeschooling family could pull it off if the money were right. I can just see it now! Brian and I with our 5 sons in tow, becoming a travel blogging family. Whoo hoo!! What a wonderful, exciting thought.

The first place we would visit would be the sweet, sandy beaches of The Cook Islands. I want to camp with our kids on the stunning horseshoe shaped island by the incredible blue lagoon. The boys would spend his days checking out the sea turtles and swimming in the blue waters. Brian and I would spend our days basking in the sun and blogging about the sand in our shoes. I'm in heaven just thinking about it. Man, what a life!

THE LUCKIEST BIRTHDAY BOY EVER

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:15:00 +0000

A 19 year old boy goes to the Price Is Right on his birthday. The following video is what happened while he was there. I don't think he will ever, ever forget his 19th birthday and neither will I. LOL I hope he is grounded enough to handle the lot. If I were his parents I'd have a mechanic alter the winnings a bit. Parents, you will understand what I mean after you've watched the video. What a day! Even Drew Carey jumped up and down in glee! That in and of itself was fun to see. Tee hee!

HILTON GAVE ME SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS WINTER

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:26:00 +0000

It doesn't take long for me to get the winter blahs. The fact that I'm about to write about the winter blahs should give you some inkling about how quickly I get them! :o) The cold weather has been here for only a few weeks now and I'm already planning a family trip for mid-winter. I do this because I know what life is like when we don't make plans for adventure during the winter months. It's horrible because, if we don't plan something, we have nothing to look forward to as a family until the summer months when we get to swim and camp any given day of the week.

Planning one or two winter family activities has become a tried and true part of our family lifestyle. The kids are excited through the winter months because there is something to look forward to and Brian and I are happy to know the he will get a few days off to relax and turn that dog gone cell phone off!

So far, we have a family plan to visit an indoor family resort in January with fellow homeschooling friends, but I think it would be nice to head out of town before then. A nice family vacation, closer to home would be perfect. Brian told me that he has a Hilton membership card because he stays at the Hilton when he travels for work at times. I was ecstatic to know this so I went to look at what Hilton has to offer.

You'll be happy to know that you won't need a discount card to get the deals I'm about to tell you about. I found out that Hilton has wonderful resorts all over America so, of course, I found one that looks beautiful and is just far enough away from our state to feel like we are on a legitimate vacation.

Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing is gorgeous and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel offers so much for family fun!

This season, we could visit the Midwest’s entertainment capital and even customize our stay with exclusive holiday packages at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing or the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. As I scanned their offers it was hard to choose from the four themed packages. The Thanksgiving Package is out because we already have Thanksgiving plans set in stone. The, It’s a Wonderful Life Package, looks like a dream! The Santa’s Coming to Town Package would be one that our son's would enjoy in a big way too. Those three were all geared toward our family, however, I took a peak at the last one they had to offer and now I'm thinking a late December rendezvous for Brian and I may be in order!

They have a New Years’ Eve Package where Brian and I could get spa treatments! Oh mamma! By day we could partake in the spirit of the holidays with light displays, shows, parades, and the old time charm of Branson but By night, ooh la la...we could retire in the luxury and elegance of the Hilton Promenade. We could breathe in the scenic views in the Missouri Ozarks and order in some of their world-class food. *sigh* I

'm thinking the kids will have to wait for mid January for their indoor water park fun. Brian and I are heading for a new year rendezvous. Yowza! See! I made my mind up while I was posting! LOL

Brian always told me that Missouri is a beautiful place. Even when he travels there on business, he enjoys staying in the Hilton. Now, I get to go out on the town with my honey. See, I now have something to look forward too! How about you?

PUTTING UP THE CHRISTMAS TREE 2008

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:46:00 +0000

Tonight we put our Christmas tree up. It's our family tradition to have the entire family do it together.

Brian usually puts the lights up, the kids put up the ornaments, I rearrange the ornaments behind their back (tee hee) and then the next son in line gets to put the Angel on top of the tree.

Last year was Kazz's last year to put the angel on the tree as a child. The next time he gets to do it he'll be 21 years old. We counted the twins together last year so we thought he would be 20 when his turn came around again but the twins no longer do it together like they did when they were 2 years old. So, with Kole doing it this year and Daxx doing it next year, we have to add a year. Daxx will do it when he's 5, Vinze when he's 10, Brise when he's 14 and Kazz when he's 21...But I digress... *sigh*

This year the kids had fun decorating the tree. When we turned on the lights and topped the tree Daxx and Kole ran around the house turning off all the lights in the house. That was a hoot! Then, in the dark, I took a picture of all my boys. Even Brian smiled with his sore back. Yes, he threw his back out just before picking up Kole to top the tree. (moving the newspaper basket) That didn't matter though! Oh No! My wonderful, loving husband HAD to pick his son up, just like every year, to put the topper on the tree. He's a wonderful, wonderful, father...Always, always here for his family, us... But I digress...again...*big, happy, sigh*

Tonight was fun...A little crazy, but fun. I'm a very blessed woman. Thank you, Lord Jesus for the blessings you bestow on us.

FREE, SAFE PICTURES FOR OUR BLOGS

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom With Brownies) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 22:26:00 +0000

One of the things my fellow bloggers and I have in common is the worry that downloading pictures from the Internet will one day infect our computer with a virus or some sort of spyware. It's a hazardous venture to "grab" blog pictures to use on our blog. I have been looking high and low for a long time, trying to find a safe place to download pictures. Imagine my surprise when I found a place where I could have my cake and eat it too!

I found Acobox! Acobox is the spot where bloggers can search for pictures safely and copy the code for them for free. That way we don't have to download the picture, we just get a code and use it on our blog! Talk about easy.

Acobox collects pictures for bloggers to use that are safe, properly licensed and eliminate any copyrite infringement that could otherwise arise. That is a huge plus for any blogger worth their salt.

I like the fact that Acobox is free and optimized so the pictures are ready to use with blogs right away. They are great for finding pictures to be added to a blog post or even for a blog banner or header. All we have to do is simply copying and paste the image code. There is no downloading, resizing, or even uploading the image file. It's simple, easy, and free! Just think of all the space on our computers that we'll save.

All I had to do was search and click for the picture on this post. It was fast and easy with no downloading what-so-ever. Easy, free and licensed. Thank you Acobox! I can now throw away my Tylenol! My headaches are gone. :o)