I Will Survive (Part 2)

Okay, are you ready for this?

I have a 3 year old with a fever, a 6 year old with impetigo, and a husband walking around outside in the fresh air because he is on the verge of throwing up (thanks to the stomach flu)...

Oh, and did I mention it's Vacation Bible School week at out church? And a certain member of the Shoe Seven just happens to be the music leader...that's right...you guessed it, ME!

It's one of those times when I go a little nutty, wanting to clear out every inch of clutter, in hopes that I'll be able to clean more easily and more often. Yeah, I know, nutty. Cause clearly we don't have a lot of extra time or energy this week, what with VBS each night and all.

Anyway, not complaining, just saying...I WILL SURVIVE:) Praying my way through, AGAIN:)

And in an effort to keep my perspective in the right place, I thought I'd focus on some of my 1000 gifts list.
Sending up a little gratitude is the best way to keep a positive attitude:)
Here goes...

66. A quiet morning-soft music, birds chirping, children quietly busy with calm activities

67. Time to think

68. Budding apple trees

69. Our "little princess" carefully painting her fingernails

70. The joys of new words spoken with excitement at the moment of understanding

71. A warm bowl of cinnamon oatmeal on a cold morning

72. Long eyelashes on a big-eyed boy

73. The potential of a lilac bush transplant

74. Hosting the children's friends

75. A father teaching and a son learning the fundamentals of baseball

76. Reading through the whole Bible for the very first time

77. An extremely thoughtful Christmas gift from my husband

78. Being blessed with so much that we are able to share with others

79. A husband that prays for me

80. Our "story"

Thanks so much for stopping in to check up on this simple life we live. I hope to share more freebie info, as soon as we make it through this little bump in the road:) May focusing on God's blessings give you hope and strength today!

I feel like chicken tonight...like chicken tonight!

Anyone remember that commercial?



Anyway, a few days ago I received yet another freebie in my mailbox...a consumer test product from McCormick. It was a dry seasoning mix for chicken and boy, was it good! We gave it a whirl tonight and even ALL the little Shoes gave it a big "thumbs up"!

This is the first time I have been chosen to do a home product test for McCormick. You are only eligible every three months but, I gotta say, I hope in three months they let me do another. It was quick, easy and tasted great! The best kind of freebie:)

And here's the greatest part...after doing the test and filling out an online survey, I get a $15 Amazon gift card as a thank you for my efforts and opinion!!! I just love it when companies pay me to do something I have to do anyway. A family has to eat, ya know! And of course, I'm in charge of making that happen, so I would have been cooking something up for supper, as usual. Does that ROCK or what?

If you would like to sign up to be on the list of possible McCormick home testers, pop on over to this link
http://www.mccormickcorporation.com/ContactUs/ConsumerTesting.aspx

Maybe, just maybe, you could get paid for something you have to do anyway, too!

Where's my 1000 gifts notebook? I've gotta write this down:)

Cucumbers!?

Produce is becoming bountiful here at the Shoe household. Our garden is growing well and it will only be a matter of time before I'll be pulling out the canner, lots of jars, lids and various canning tools and beginning the annual ritual of staying up until all hours "putting up" vegetables (and maybe a few pears, too!). Thing is, right now, we mostly have an overabundance of cucumbers...and I'm not really sure what to do with them because they are not a variety that you can pickle:(

Any ideas or recipes that include cucumber? If so, send them my way because, Praise the Lord, my cup runneth over again...
this time with cucumbers:)

A Fresh freebie for you!

Hello my lovely readers,

We don't have central air conditioning...I know, a travesty.
Hot summer days often call for cool evening suppers at the Shoe house and salad can frequently be found on our summer menu.

So how excited was I when I got an email from Vocalpoint letting me know that I was able to receive a FREE bag of Fresh Express bagged salad...let's just say (with a big cheerleader smile) SUPER excited! You know I love freebies.

And what's even better is the fact that Vocalpoint has given me the opportunity to share a link with you, so you can try Fresh Express bagged salad, too! If you are (or become) a Vocalpoint member you can receive a free sample of the salad yourself and let them know what you think. Just click on this link vocalpoint.com/FreshSavings and enjoy a free bag of salad on me (well, not really, thank Vocalpoint:)

Blessings! Maybe I should write this down on my 1000 gifts list (he he!)

More of the 1000 gifts list...

#46 The cheerful color orange

#47 The bend and sway of green grass that could use cutting at the bottom of the children's slide

#48 Quiet moments in a chaotic home

#49 A toddler wearing Daddy's shoes, clomping carefully (and loudly) around the house

#50 Arms full of children

#51 Grocery stores open 24 hours

#52 Screams and squeals of delight from a huge group of friends enjoying the trampoline

#53 An expensive coat that was misplaced--FOUND!

#54 A house full of the aroma of freshly baked cookies:)

#55 Sharing a tender moment of mourning the loss of "our duck" with my daughters--tears were shed by all three of us

#56 A moment of shared excitement with a friend about "what could be"

#57 A good night's rest

#58 Bubbles being blown by little puckered lips on a windy day

#59 A mostly clean house

#60 The soft pitter-patter sound of the rain on our metal roof

#61 An email of encouragement and thanks

#62 Laundry that needs folding

#63 Dishes that need washing

#64 The girls holding still for hair brushing

#65 Tasting something yummy at a church potluck


James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Yesterday...

Yes, I know, not an 80's or 90's song...but an oldie none the less:)
Yesterday was supposed to be Freebie Friday, but alas, we had "drive by fireworks" on the schedule last night, so here I am plinking out my post during Saturday nap time. Anyhoo...

Another SUPER fun way the Shoe Seven gets free stuff is through a site called House Party.

The Shoe Seven is a social bunch and we love a good party. But most of the time, it's chaos here and not the best environment for impromptu entertaining. Often we need a little motivation to get our place all cleaned up and throw a shindig and this site provides that and more. Basically, the idea is that companies use this as a marketing tool to promote and create excitement about their product. By way of survey, they choose lots of people to host parties (which take place all across the country, all on the same day) featuring their product. (Now keep in mind, I've done like 20 surveys online for parties I'm interested in hosting but we've only been chosen for two.) We were chosen as hosts for a Velvetta Game Day (Super bowl) party and a Ziploc DIY Home Organization party.


Just to give you an example of what kind of fun freebies you (and your friends) can get if you are chosen as a host...

Our FREE Velvetta party pack included:

1 32 oz. package of VELVEETA
16 VELVEETA Loaf Savers for your and your guests
1 can of RO*TEL Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies
1 Dip Bowl
NABISCO Chips
16 Snack Clips for you and your guests
25 Super-Cool disposable cups from Etch It® (everyone can personalize his or her own!)
KOOL-AID Powdered Beverage
16 Recipe cards with coupon for you and your guests

Now granted, you have to actually host a party and there is some cost that goes along with that but if your friends are cool with "bring a dish" type parties...just keep it simple, host a casual get-together, and pass out some free stuff from your party pack:)

To get signed up to possibly host parties or for more info, go to www.houseparty.com/join