An Intentional Mother/Daughter Craft Night: May 31

Mark your calendars for Friday, May 31 because Anna and I are hosting another Mother/Daughter Craft Night!!  We'll be creating this colorful, whimsical felt flower bunting:
 

This will be a night of creation, fun, and connection, a night made especially for moms and their daughters age 7 and up. Here is a picture of the creative fun from our last Mother/Daughter Craft Night:



The class is from 7-9:15ish and is only $25. That includes all your supplies. 



At this Mother/Daughter Craft Night we will be playing with lots of felt. 

You and your daughter will learn to make felt flowers and then you will combine these felt flowers with felt pompoms and a chalkboard to make a colorful garland of happiness.  

Hang this colorful bunting in your girl's room or from the mantel or out on the deck or use it to decorate for a bday celebration like I did below. Our flower bunting has 16 on it because tomorrow is Anna's 16th birthday. This is my foyer:

Don't worry; even if you don't think you have any artistic ability whatsoever, we will walk you thru each step. You and your daughter will have fun picking out your own colors and creating together. You will leave with a unique, one-of-a-kind finished project that y'all handmade together! Here's the bunting in a different location. You can space the flowers to make the bunting different lengths.



The best part of this class (yes, even better than leaving the clean up to us) is at the end, we will hand you a sheet of questions. The questions are all related to the piece of art you just created and our hope is that these questions will be a springboard for some good, real conversation between you and your daughter.  Here's a picture of a mom and her daughter answering the questions from our last Mother/Daughter Craft Night:



Perhaps you and your daughter can go out for ice cream afterwards and pick 5 questions from the list to ask each other. Or perhaps your daughter can read them out loud on the way home and y'all can talk thru them.



These questions are what make our Craft Night different from any others out there. We want to help you nurture your relationship with your daughter. This is an Intentional Craft Night, so plan on crafting with us and then spending some time connecting with your daughter. Have some fun, but then go open the lines of communication and help prepare your daughter for life. What could be better?

Here's our flower bunting out on the deck. I love the lights with it.



We'll be playing with felt, paint, felt pompoms, twine and more. We'll be designing our own fabric covered buttons. Here's another shot of  the colorful, whimsical piece of art we will be making.

Won't you join us for this special memory-making night? If you are interested in coming, let me know and I will get you and your girl on the class list. I will then let you know where you can send your class fee and registration. Class is limited to the first 12 moms and their daughters.



This is a new class The Intentional Home is offering. Our hope is to offer a new project and new questions every quarter for moms and their daughters. Anna and I are already planning another night for September!!  Contact me here if you want to reserve your spot for Friday, May 31.

Catching Up: 6 Thoughts

Hey-

I miss y'all. I have been in the thick of parenting teenagers lately and thus a little too tired for much else.

from Pinterest

It is also May. Is May not the most packed month of the year? My house and me!! tend to fall apart every single May. I used to go to the doctor every May convinced something was terribly wrong with me. Now I know it is just the end of school year craziness. 

So since it has been a while, I thought I would share a few things that have been rumbling in my head and heart lately:

1.  In 26 days, my kids will be out of school. I am a little scared. I need a summer plan and routine. I think I need to go back and read my post on The Power of a Summer Routine. Do you have a plan of attack yet?

2.  I was listening to Family Life on the radio the other day and this quote by Tommy Nelson, a pastor in Texas has stuck with me. This is what I want to impart to my kids as they start to think about dating.

“If you’re single, your job is to run as hard and as fast toward Jesus as you can. If, while you’re running, you see somebody out of the corner of your eye, running in the same direction and about the same speed, take a second look.” 

If interested, you can listen to the entire broadcast here; it is titled Finding Your Soul Mate. 

3. I really want to do a blog series on Laundry.  I recently made my own laundry stain remover aka Shout or Resolve and I can't wait to share it with you. I am so pleased with its performance. 

I am thinking I really do have 5 days of laundry encouragement, inspiration, and practical tips to share. I mean I do have lots of experience; I do about 12 loads a week. 

Would you be interested in a whole blog series about laundry? What laundry questions do you have? What is your biggest struggle when it comes to laundry? Is there something you do that has been a laundry "lifesaver" that you can share with us? What would you like to read about in this series? You can contact me here.

4. I am in the process of making this:

from County Living

For Mother's Day, Rob and the kids spray painted 3 filing cabinets that I found at the State Surplus Property Agency Warehouse; they were only $15 each. Rob and the kids also got me started on a globe collection. I'll be sure to show you the finished piece when it is done.

This new piece of furniture will go in the rec room and store the boys' trains, our board games and puzzles, and extra blankets and comforters (for cold movie watching nights in the basement and for the kids' sleepovers).

5. New parenting thing is happening in the Soutter household.  Rob and I have always agreed that there should be no tv in the kids' bedrooms. We want to know what they are watching. Plus we want to know how much they are watching. Yet we have allowed laptops and ipods in the kids' rooms which not only give access to facebook, texting, twitter, and instagram but also to tv episodes, netflix, and youtube videos. And that got us thinking, if we do not allow tvs in the kids' rooms, then why are we allowing their ipods in their rooms?

So we have a new rule in the Soutter house. At 8pm, all ipods and laptops have to be out of the kids' rooms and on dad's dresser. Just trying to set some boundaries in this crazy easy access electronic world. On this topic, did you read the Newsweek article, iCrazy?  We read it out loud as a family.

6. Anna and I are preparing for our 2nd Mother/Daughter Craft Night. 

Friday, May 31 from 7pm to 9:15ish, we will be making colorful garlands of happiness. Felt flowers, felt pompoms, twine, fabric covered buttons, mini chalkbaords, and paint are all involved. Here is a sneak peak at some of the colorful fun:

On Friday, I will have a post up with pictures of the craft we will be creating as well as details on how to sign up for this class.

If you want to read about our 1st Mother/Daughter Craft Night, check out this post here. It was such a fun and special night. 

More later. Have an intentional day!

My Top 3 Favorite Deals at Harris Teeter 5/8-5/14

Quick post to share my top 3 favorite deals at Harris Teeter this week. These deals are good til Tues, 5/14.

1. Birds Eye Steamfresh Veggies are on sale BOGO so that makes each bag $1.34. Use the 50¢ coupon from 4//14 SS and you get a bag of frozen veggies for just 34¢. I aim to pay no more than about 60¢ a bag so this is a good deal!

2. Newman's Own Pasta Sauce is on sale for $2. Use the 50¢ coupon from 4/14 RP and you can get a jar for just $1. My target price for spaghetti sauce is 50¢ to $1.

3. Quaker Granola Bars are on sale for $2. Use the 75¢ coupon from 4/14 RP and you can get a box for just 50¢/ My target price for granola bars is less than 75¢.

Did you find any good deals at HT this week?  Do share.  Or have you shopped else where? If so, tell me what has been your top favorite deal this week?

Sweet Deals at Starbucks and Taco Bell

2 "Happy Hours" to note:

1. At Starbucks, everyday this week (until Sun, May 12), from 3-5pm, you can get half price frappuccinos. 

Even the new Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino is half price.

 2. At Taco Bell from 2-5pm everyday (until they tell us otherwise), you can get loaded grillers, freezes, sparklers, and medium drinks for just $1.

My kids like the Pink Lemonade Freeze and the Cherry Limeade Sparkler, a little treat after school.

Both of these deals are nation wide, so you readers not in Raleigh can take part of these "happy hours."

Read more here: http://blogs.newsobserver.com/centsiblesaver/starbucks-half-price-frappuccinos-start-friday-may-3#storylink=cpy

My Favortie Deals at Harris Teeter this Week

Who needs Triples or Super Doubles to score great deals? This week I spent $34.36 at Harris Teeter and saved $71.71, a savings of 67%. If you need help figuring out the % you saved, check out this post.

These were my favorite deals at Harris Teeter this week. These deals will be good until Tues, 5/7.  And these deals use coupons that recently came out so those of you who just took my coupon class, perhaps this week is the week you go try out the coupon thing.

Quaker Oatmeal Squares Cereal is on sale BOGO so that makes it $2.19 a box.  Use the 75¢ coupon from 4/14 RP and you get it for 69¢ a box. My target price for cereal is 70¢ to $1.25 a box.

Finish Dishwasher Gelpacs are on sale BOGO so that makes it $2.89 a box. Use the $1.25 coupon from 4/21 SS and you get it for $1.64 a pack.

Smart Balance Milk is on sale BOGO too so that makes them $2.09. Use the $1.50 coupon from 4/14 SS and get a carton for just 59¢.

Nestle Pure Life bottled water (24 pack) is on EVIC special for  $2.97. Limit 2. Use the $1/2 coupon from 4/28 SS and you can get a 24 pack for $2.47. I aim to pay no more that 10¢-12¢ a bottle.

Did you go to Harris Teeter this week? What were you favorite deals?

Read more here: http://blogs.newsobserver.com/centsiblesaver/grocery-deals-may-1-7#storylink=cp¢

A Home Decor Swap Meet Is So Much Fun. . .and I am having one tonight!

At my Home Organization and Decor Class, ladies come with boxes, and bags, and big tupperware containers full of their old and unused home decor items.


All those impulse buys that never got returned to the store.

All those purchases that we thought were going to work, but did not.

All those items that worked in our old home, but not in our new one.

All those unused gifts.

All those pieces we just got tired of, but are still in great condition

fill my dining room!


There's usually so many items that we have to push the chairs against the wall, lean pictures up against the walls, and put items on the floor. The dining room table is simply not big enough and I have a big table that easily seats 10-12 people.


You see that pretty turquoise vase there? The gal who took that home emailed me afterwards  letting me know she painted the backsplash of her kitchen this color. She then used the vase as an accent piece above the cabinets. Dark brown cabinets and this lovely light turquoise color. . .so pretty!

This gal said she had been feeling so stagnant and stifled creatively in her home and then she took this class and participated in the swap meet and turned her home into a place she truly loves.


There are usually no cat fights. . .lol.  Everyone leaves delighted with their "new to them" treasures!!

And hopefully some of those who come "catch the bug". This would be a great "party" to host in your home. . get to know your neighbors a little better. It is so thrifty and so resourceful and so fun and a perfect way to recycle items that no longer bring you joy!

I have a Home Organization and Decor class tonight (April 30, 7-9:30pm). There are still spaces open if you would like to come. We'll talk about the organizing, the cleaning, and the decorating of our homes. And then we'll have a swap meet. 

Contact me if you would like to come to tonight's class and I will send you the class email with directions to my home.  More details about the class as well as what past students have said about the class can be found HERE.

I got paid $8.77 at Target! Lots of Freebies this Week!

Target has some great deals going on this week. 

When you combine sale + coupon + gift card promotion + mail-in-rebate, you not only get items for free, but you can make money!!  

I made $8.77 for taking all of this out of the store.  You can too!

I got 10 mouthwashes, 9 mini shampoos, 8 eyeshadows, 29 toothpastes, and 24 toothbrushes for better than free.



To make the most of this deal, you will want to shop today or tomorrow. Many of the coupons expire 4/30 and to take advantage of the mail-in-rebate, you have to shop on or before 4/30.

Here are the deals:

1. When you buy 4 Cover Girl products, you get a $5 gift card. So you can buy 4 eye shadows for $3.14 each or $12.56 total. Use 4 of the $2 coupons from 4/28 SS and bring the total down to $4.56 and then get a $5 gift card.  

Do note that if you are going to buy more than 4 of these eye shadows, you need to do them in separate transactions. You can only use 4 identical PG coupons in one transaction and Target registers will beep if you try to use more. My Target had no problem with me doing 4 separate transactions. I not only did separate transactions so I could use 4 identical PG coupons at a time, but also so I could get gift cards and then pay with gift cards.

2. The 1.7 oz bottles of Loreal Advanced Shampoo and Conditioner are 99¢ at Target. These are found right next to the big bottles of Loreal in the shampoo aisle. Use the $1 off coupon from 3/17 RP and 4/28 RP to get these for free. I had 9 coupons.

3. Target is giving a $5 gift card when you buy certain oral care products. Many of their $5.99 oral care products qualify for this deal. These $5.99 items are not found in the oral care aisle; they are found in the back corner of the store where the holiday/seasonal merchandise is typically set up. In the back corner of the store, there is a bulk packaging and value size section. This is where these oral care products are.

So combine a $5.99 product with a $1 coupon with the gift card promotion and you can get toothpaste, toothbrushes, and mouth wash for free. I will be donating a lot of the above to my food pantry this week.

Listerine Mouthwash 1.5 liter is on sale for $5.99. I happened to have 55¢ coupons from a dentist office for these. So that brought the price down to $5.44 and then I got a $5 gift card for each one I purchased. There is also a $1 coupon in 4/7 RP which would make it free, but I had already used mine. Do you still have that coupon?

Colgate Optic White 2 ct Value pack toothpaste is on sale for $5.99. Use the $1 coupon from 4/14 SS to get it down to $4.99 and then get a $5 gift card which essentially makes it free.

Crest 3D White Mouth rinse with a bonus trial size bottle is on sale for $5.99. There is a $1.50 coupon in the 3/31 PG that would make this $4.49 and then you get back $5 gift card. So you would make 51¢ buying this.

Crest Pro Health 3 ct Value pack toothpaste is on sale for $5.99. Use the $1 coupon from 3/31 PG and 4/28 PG to get this for free too once you take in account the $5 gift card.

And get this: All of these products except for the Loreal shampoo qualify for the $15 mail-in-rebate when you buy $50 worth of select PG products. So save your receipts and upcs and send them in with this form and get $15!  Again, to take advantage of this mail-in-rebate, you need to have receipts dated between 2/13 and 4/30. 

So for those interested I did 4 transactions so I could use 4 identical PG coupons at a time and also so I could pay with the gift cards I got from the previous transaction.  

1st Transaction: Spent $64.28, but got 12 gifts cards back totaling $60. Now if you do not have $65 to spend out of pocket, just break down your transactions to very small ones, where you will spend $5 out of pocket and get a $5 gift card. And then  just roll the gift cards so you are paying nothing for future transactions.

2nd transaction: Spent 0, used 7 of the gift cards (10¢ remaining on one), so that means I have now have $25.10 on cards (5 cards plus 10¢). And I earned 7 cards totaling $35.

3rd transaction: Spent 0, used 9 ($4.30 left on one). So now I have left a 4.30 card, 10¢ card, and 3 cards totaling $15. And I earned 8 more cards totaling $40.

4th transaction: Spent 0, used 10¢ card and 2 cards ($3.75 left on one). So I leave the store with $4.30 card, $3.75 card, and 9 cards plus one more I just got back from this transaction. So I leave the store with $58.05 in gift cards. I spent $64.28 in the first transaction, so really I spent $6.23 real money. And then I am going to submit for the $15 rebate, so I really make $8.77!!!

You can do this!!

Ok . I gotta go. I have a Home Organization and Decor Class tomorrow night that I need to get ready for, which by the way there is still room, if you would like to come. Details here. But this deal was too good to not get on here and share. Let me know if you go to Target today or tomorrow. I'd love to hear what you get. My Target at North Hills was stocked. I did not even make a dent in the shelves.