Friday, April 29, 2011

Extreme Couponing


I will admit I like the "thrill" of using a coupon to save some money.  At times, I wonder if I could be an extreme coupon-er.  I don't know if you are watching the new show out called Extreme Couponing.  I have been.  I am amazed by the amounts of food and other products these people store/hide/save.  And I can't help but ask myself if their couponing isn't causing them health issues.  The majority of these couponers on this show are obese.  Now, I'm not the slimmest of people, but I do know that eating 48 Butterfingers is not good for my health.  Yet, many of these couponers appear to be eating all 48 of the Butterfingers they "saved on".  Not to mention all the noodle packages, frozen pizzas, cookies, etc.  Will these people get a bite for reality shows and next I'll see them on the Biggest Loser?  So it makes me question, does couponing (I'm talking extreme type couponing) have a correlation to obesity?  Certainly, it is a rarity to find a coupon for fresh produce...and if these extreme couponers are only purchasing items they have coupons for...then how often are they buying foods that their bodies NEED?

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Easter rolls

Today the kids and I made Easter rolls (also known as Resurrection Rolls).  They are a simple way of explaining that Jesus has risen and the tomb is empty.


You need jumbo sized marshmallows and refrigerated rolls.  We opened each roll and put one marshmallow inside.  

I told the boys that the rolls were like the tomb and the marshmallow was like Jesus being put inside the tomb.  We talked about how Jesus died on a cross and was put into a tomb.  I explained three days later Jesus rose from the dead and the tomb was empty.  Brewer immediately said, "The marshmallow is going to disappear and the roll will be empty like the cave."  You got it buddy; the cave (i.e. the tomb) was empty for our Savior lives!


The boys pinched the edges of the rolls and closed the marshmallow inside.
Then we baked the rolls on 350 degrees for 18 minutes.


When the biscuits come out, rub a little butter on the tops and sprinkle with cinnamon & sugar.  (This make them look even more a little "tomb" like.)

If you break them open, you'll see a "hole" in the biscuit.  

But the biggest impression your kids will have is when they eat them and see the hole in the middle of the biscuit. 
THE TOMB IS EMPTY!  Mark 16:6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him."


Our Savior lives!!  Happy Easter!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Easy Pea-sy Easter Gift

These are super easy.  All you need ... sandwich size Ziplock baggies, cardstock, Easter stickers or die cuts, stapler, and some candy.

First fill the bags about halfway with candy and zip the bag shut.  I would have LOVED to do chocolate candy, but the kids are going to be outside for 3 hours tomorrow...so I had to go with this chewy kind.


Then take some cardstock and cut it in a 5.5"x6.5" rectangle.  Using the 6.5" part as your length, fold the 5.5" part in half...making it 2.75" on each side.   Decorate one side of this fold how you would like.  On these there is an Easter bunny attached with pop dots and the words "Happy Easter".  We've also added the classmate's name and Maddox's name.


Once decorated, staple the cardstock to the baggie.  Make sure the baggie is in between the cardstock.  VIOLA!  SO EASY!!

Now I must confess and tell you that I was planning on making these and using my Cricut to create the cardstock piece.  But I found these cardstock pieces pre-made in a pack of 20 at Hobby Lobby on sale for $2.25...so I really couldn't go wrong.  I cheated and used the pre-made ones...but you could make them easily!

Happy Easter!