I just found out that my blog here was voted one of 115 Top Parenting Blogs for eCollege Finder!

I was very excited to be included on the list of great blogs!  I wrote a post HERE telling about my nomination and encouraging student parents to keep working hard!  I'm thrilled to be on the list with 2 great blogging buddies, Lynda at My Heart's Desire, and Anna-Marie at (Our) Life's Adventures.  To check out their blogs and the many other eCollege Finder's Top Parenting Blogs go HERE.   Thank You eCollege Finder!  

As we enter the third Sunday of Advent (also known as Gaudete Sunday when we light the pink candle) I thought it would be fun to share this creative and fun video "If Mary and Joseph Used Facebook". REJOICE! 

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This week Harris Teeter is super doubling coupons starting Wednesday, June 22, through June 28th. In other words, any coupon $1.98 or less will double in value!  I got to work and pulled out all my $1.00 off or more coupons that I have collected to be ready to go shopping! In a future post, I hope to show you my coupon binder that I use to organize my coupons and make shopping easier.

Although I've been frustrated because my local Harris Teeters (yes, I've been to more than one store hoping to find all that I wanted) are normally out of stock on the really good deals, I must say it's been a good week of savings so far.  Below is what I just bought tonight.  I saved $44.00 and spent $17.00!  It's always fun to find good deals on name brand groceries and save money! 

Thank you for all those that entered the Unplanned DVD Giveaway that I posted about HERE last week! The winner of the DVD through Inlinkz random drawing is Joann, the #24 entry! Congratulations Joann!

Now onto some Wordless Wednesday pics that I am titling


The 3 hanging baskets on our front porch that I picked out on Mother's Day.  We got these from Harris Teeter.  Unfortunately, there was no coupon to use when we bought them :) 














Please join Lynda, Anna-Marie, and myself at No Ordinary Blog Hop (NOBH).  Click button below for details and to read and follow some great blog posts that have already linked up!

Thank you to all those who entered my "Happy UN-Birthday (hand-made) Jewelry Giveaway!"  It was a great success in that visitors to my blog were introduced to Amelia, a very talented 7 year old, who made the beautiful necklace and jewelry for the giveaway.  Visitors also had the opportunity to get to know Amelia's talented father, Cameron Smith, who is an incredible Catholic artist.   If you would like to find out more about Cameron Smith, check out this link from Wall's Fine Art Gallery, where Cameron sells some of his paintings.  When you click on the link you will read a biography about Cameron Smith and then scroll down a little to see a great video with pictures of Cameron and his family mixed with his artwork pieces. Please share Cameron Smith's website (www.smithcatholicart.com) with others and help spread the word about his beautiful masterpieces!


And the winner of this giveaway is Adriana, from
Congratulations!  Adriana loves Amelia's jewelry and she had this to say about one of Cameron's art pieces after she visited his website:  "My favorite was the Immaculate Heart of Mary, she's beautiful, there is something so peaceful about that art piece!"
Adriana's mother loves hand-made jewelry and Adriana said that her mother has been working in a Catholic Private School for many years.  That is a neat Catholic connection since Cameron's family is Catholic and he shares his love for the Faith through his artistic talent!
Thank you again for everyone's entries and comments! Thank you also to Miss Amelia for making the one-of-a-kind jewelry!