Payless Shoe Source Coupon

Payless Shoe Source is excited to offer Oprah Show viewers 50 percent off their entire purchase at Payless stores in the United States, Canada, Guam and Saipan*.


This in-store offer is good from now through close of business on Friday, October 30th.

Click HERE to get your coupon!

Free Audio Book Downloads

In this day and age, sitting down and reading a book can be hard to get most kids to do. Most kids have MP3 players or Ipods.

Luckily, you can get audio books, load them to your kids MP3 Player and know they are still hearing great stories.

At Great Little Trading Company you can download tons of kids audio books for free. They have great stories such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Three Little Pigs, Cinderella, and The Tortoise and the Hare.

Go check out the selection of great audio books right now!

Wordless Wednesday

Halloween is upon us.
*This pic was taken before Jake was stung twice by bees* :(

Car Care Coupons

I don't know about you, but car care is always the last thing I think of. I have so many other things going on that I guess I just think my car will run great no matter what is done(or not done in my case) to it. Luckily, I have a father who always calls and makes sure I've done this or that to it, so he is a nice reminder.

And now I have these great coupons to Pep Boys that will help make the boring task or car care eve more enjoyable by saving me money!

But hurry, one coupon expires this FRIDAY! So Click, Print, and get to Pep Boys. Check the Pep Boys website to find a location near you.

Expires: October 31, 2009

Expires November 15,2009

Halloween Entertainment

Have you already carved or painted your pumpkins and you are now wondering " How am I going to entertain the kids before it is time to trick or treat?"

Luckily, I have the answer for you! I found some great Halloween coloring pages perfect to keep the kids busy!

Just click and print!

Coloring Page Creator

Witch's Brew Coloring Page

Frankenstein and Mad Scientist Coloring Page

Jack-o-Lantern Scarecrow Coloring Page.

Menu Plan Monday~ October 26th

Well my son's 3rd birthday party Saturday was a success! Total Star Wars and he loved it!

This week is just as busy as last I think. Only 2 nights this week that are open and free! We have cheer practice, 2 football games, Daisy Ball for girl scouts, and a fall festival for the boys, plus Trick or Treating on Halloween.

So I have 2 questions for my blog readers today, 1. What are your kids dressing up as? and 2. Do you have a traditional meal you cook on Halloween Night?

My daughter is "Spiderella", which essentially she looks like a vampire but I am told I must refer to her as Spiderella. My oldest son is Luke Skywalker, not really shocked by this are you? And my 8, almost 9 month old is just going to be wearing a skeleton sleeper. He will not be participating in the trick or treating, just the fall festival and then he will help me hand out candy on Halloween Night. As far as the meal, no we are non-traditional when it comes to this holiday and meal so we just cook what sounds good.

So...without further rambling on my part, here is my menu plan for another busy week!

Monday- Broiled Steak, Potatoes, and green beans.

Tuesday- Fish Tacos- made with tilapia- recipe to follow.

Wednesday-Cheer Practice- Cheese tortellini and broccoli

Thursday- Football game- quesadillas, rice and beans.

Friday- Daisy Ball and Fall festival- DD and I will eat pizza at the Daisy Ball and I believe the boys and hubby will have hotdogs at the fall festival

Saturday- Halloween Night- BBQ Ribs, Baked potato and corn on the cob.

Sunday- My son's actual 3rd Birthday is the 29th, but since we have a football game we are going to take him out to celebrate today. We will probably end up at Chuck E Cheese if I know my son! ;)

There you have it, another menu plan for a crazy week. As always, check out The Organizing Junkie for more great menu plans!

Wordless Wednesday

Mommy and Daughter ready for the homecoming game!

Menu Plan Monday~ October 19th

Well, we survived Homecoming weekend....barely I think. I forgot to put sunscreen on myself and it turned out to be hotter than we all thought. But the girls had a great time, did a wonderful job and the football team won!

Now I wish I could say the busy weeks are over, but I think this one maybe the busiest of all. I have a parent meeting for Girl Scouts, Cheer practice, football game, Mothers Night Out, guests spending the night, and my son's 3rd Birthday party! I know, it sounds crazy doesn't it.

Well, lets get that menu out there. Nothing fancy, but hey, its food and its good food.

Monday- Parent Meeting for Girl Scouts- Meatball Subs and homemade onion rings.

Tuesday- Chicken Lickin Pork Chops in the crock pot, rice and veggies.

Wednesday- Cheer Practice- Sausage and Onions, rice.

Thursday- Football Game- Grab something on the way to the game.

Friday- I have a Mothers Night Out, plus my first weekend guests arrive after a concert to crash at our house. Hubby is in charge of quesadillas and rice for the kiddos.

Saturday- DS's birthday party(serving pizza for lunch) but my parents arrive and are spending the night, I think we are going to make Enchiladas for dinner.

Sunday- leftovers

There you have it, a simple menu plan for a super busy week. Head over to The Organizing Junkie for tons more menu plans!

The Entitlement Free Child Giveaway

Mom Select contacted me and asked me to review a book for them. I was really excited when I saw the book and I knew this was going to be a great read!


The Entitlement-Free Child gives parents practical and easy to incorporate techniques to everything from bickering siblings to teacher conflicts and social problems.


The Entitlement-Free Child not only outlines what an entitlement is and how to avoid it, but gives you real-life situations and how you can deal with them. A situation is outlined, entitlement issues listed and then an entitlement-free strategies are given. As I would read a situation, I would think about how I would handle it. It was quite an eye-opener. Apparently, I have entitlement issues that I am inadvertently passing on to my children!

This book isn't a child-raising theory, it is more like a guide book with practical tips that will help guide you through confusing parenting situations.

The Benefits of Entitlement-Free parenting:

• Eliminates the self-perpetuating stress of entitlement where nothing is ever enough
• Gives you the permission and the encouragement to say "no" (a positive response to parental doubt & guilt)
  
• Teaches children self respect and respect for others
  
• Teaches children self control and postponed gratification
  
• Teaches children age-appropriate problem solving skills
  
• Gives children age-appropriate responsibility for choices and behavior

My Review:
One of the best techniques that I learned about is called "play". Play - Instead of taking kids shopping or to a movie for good behavior. Try planning a picnic and enjoying a park while asking the kids what they want to do for fun and what kind of day they had? You would be amazed at the fun you will have. The bonus: You are teaching your kids they can have fun without spending a lot. This is a wonderful lesson, especially in today's economic times.

Should You Buy?
If you ever thought - why can't my kids quit the constant "Its mine, I want it" whining? This book will help you put an end to stubbornness, disrespect and social problems by giving your child the resourcefulness to get what he/she needs and the confidence to respect the needs of others.

It's definitely worth a read for parents of all ages!



BUY IT!: The Entitlement-Free Child by Karent Deerwester can be purchased on Amazon.com for only $11.24



WIN IT!: One of my readers will receive their own copy of The Entitlement-Free Child by Karen Deerwester.


TO ENTER: Leave a comment telling me what parenting issue you feel is your biggest concern (ex: bickering siblings, allowance, bossiness, eating out, etc...)
This is required before you may use any of the extra credit options.
Please leave your email address in your comment if it is not visible in your profile.

Extra Credit! You may do any or all of the following, just don't forget to leave a separate comment for EACH one you do:

• Blog about the giveaway with a link to my blog (www.txmykindarain.blogspot.com) 2 entries, leave 2 comments
• Follow my blog
• Add my button to your blog
• Add me to your text blog roll (not button) 2 entries, leave 2 comments
  
• Subscribe to my blog via email
• Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following: Tired of bratty kids? Win The Entitlement-Free Child giveaway @gutimom http://bit.ly/sHtvR
• Leave the link to your tweet in your comment. You can do this once a day! Just come back and leave the link each time you do.

Contest ends October 30th at 11:59 CST and a winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. I will contact the winner on October 31th and they will have 48 hours to respond. US Only

Wordless Wednesday

Look at that little ham! Don't you just want to eat him up?!

Menu Plan Monday~ October 12th

Another Monday!

We had a pretty busy weekend since it was Madison's 7th Birthday, so I am ready for a toned down week. We only have 2 games this week and no practice, but we have a Halloween Party on Friday Night too. So at least there is some fun mixed in there.

Monday- French Toast(with bread I made, recipe is here), bacon, cowboy hash and eggs.

Tuesday- Famous Potato Soup and Hot Ham Sammy's

Wednesday- Crockpot Chicken Lickin Good Pork Chops, rice and veggie

Thursday-(Football game)- Spaghetti with meatballs and veggie

Friday- Halloween Party night(I will be making Sausage Stars and a festive dessert, just not sure what yet.)

Saturday- Homecoming Football game- Shredded BBQ sandwiches with french fries

Sunday- Meatball Subs and homemade onion rings.



As always, head over to The Organizing Junkie for over 400 menu plans!

Roasted Parmesan Garlic Cauliflower

Yum Yum Yum!

That is basically all you need to say about this next recipe. Its one of my favorites! I love the combo of cauliflower and broccoli with Parmesan cheese all nice and crusty on top! The recipe says cauliflower but you can use broccoli too. As you can see from my picture I did both, plus a little red onion.

Roasted Parmesan Garlic Cauliflower

from Recipezaar

3 T fresh minced garlic

3 T olive oil (can reduce depending on the amount of cauliflower)

1 head cauliflower, separated into florets

1/3 c grated Parmesan cheese

salt and black pepper

chopped fresh parsley or dried parsley

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Grease large casserole dish. Place olive oil and garlic in large resealable bag. Add
cauliflower and shake to mix. Pour into prepared casserole dish. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring halfway
through. Top with Parmesan and parsley and broil for 3 to 5 minutes or until golden brown.

Pierogi Chicken Lasagna

OH. MY. GOODNESS!
Talk about heavenly! This meal was just.....just......AMAZING!

Hubby and I devoured this! Another one the kids wouldn't touch, but again..I'm not surprised.

I definitely plan to make this one again! Next time I plan to use more sauce since it was a little dry for our tastes. Hubby likes a lot of sauce on his pasta!

Pierogi Chicken Lasagna
~*~Sandy~*~

Preparation Time: 10 Mins
Total Time: 40 Mins
Number of Servings: 4

A nice twist on classic lasagna! Try this creative version with layers of potato stuffed pasta and tender slices of white meat chicken baked in a traditional red sauce and lots of cheese.

Ingredients and Steps:

1 lb pierogies, frozen
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup cheddar cheese
1 (18 oz) jar spaghetti sauce
4 grilled chicken breasts, sliced

1. Preheat oven to 375° F.

2. Pour half of the sauce into a 9"x 9" casserole dish.

3. Layer pierogies over sauce and top with sliced chicken breast.

4. Pour remaining sauce over casserole and sprinkle with cheese.

5. Cover with sprayed foil and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

Roasted Potatoes and Sausage

This is one of my favorite meals.

Why do you ask? It reminds me of my mom, and its always good to think of your mom, especially when its over a food that she helped teach you how to make.

This meal is not a fancy meal by any means, but its a nice hot, comforting meal sure to please any one in your family. OK, who am I kidding, my kids wont touch this, but they don't know any better. In time I know this will become one of their favorites too because it will be something I have taught them to make just like my mom taught me.

This is just a standard recipe. You can add or take away as much as you like. This was the measurement of ingredients I used tonight and it fed myself and my husband and leftovers for the both of us.

Roasted Potatoes and Sausage

4 large russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1-2 packages of Ekrich Smoked Dinner Sausage
2 packages of dry onion soup mix
canola oil (you just want enough oil to make the onion soup mix stick to the potatoes and sausage)
3-4 cloves of garlic, minced or use a micro plane
1 medium size red onion, cubed
pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Toss all of the ingredients in a bowl till covered with the onion soup mix. Place in a greased(with Pam) casserole dish(9x13). Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour. Check after 1 hour, if potatoes are done(stick with a fork) then your dish is done, if not , let it go for a little longer.


I served this with Parmesan Zucchini tonight but its also fine by itself and with some nice bread!

Wordless Wednesday

Ahhh..the Life of a Cheer Mom!

Broiled Tilapia Parmesan

So, my husband is allergic to shellfish. SIGH...sad I know. I love shellfish!

Anyways, so I still try to get him to eat some kind of fish since its better for you. Luckily, tilapia is a fish that he has learned to love! Especially when I make it this way! Even my daughter loves it! She eats a whole fillet by herself! I wish I could say the same for my oldest son, but again, self made vegetarian. I usually serve this with couscous because that is the one thing that my picky son will eat, and broccoli.

Tilapia is a great mild, buttery fish. If you have not tried it before, this should be your first recipe to try out!

Broiled Tilapia Parmesan

2 pounds tilapia filets
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup butter, softened
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon celery salt

Preheat your oven's broiler, and grease a broiling pan, or line with aluminum foil.

In a small bowl, mix together the Parmesan cheese, butter, mayonnaise, and lemon juice and season with dried basil, pepper, onion powder, and celery salt, mix well and set aside.

Arrange fillets in a single layer on the prepared pan. Broil a few inches from the heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the fillets over, and broil for a couple more minutes.

Remove the fillets from the oven, and cover them with the Parmesan cheese mixture on the top side and broil for 2 more minutes, or until the topping is browned, and fish flakes easily with a fork. Be careful not to over cook the fish

Menu Plan Monday~ October 5th

Another busy week for us!

My daughter's 7th Birthday is this weekend so I have lots to do to prepare for it, plus tons of Cheerleading!

I am trying 2 new menu items this week and I hope they become family favorites because they sounds fabulous!

Monday-Cheer Pictures and Book Fair/Reading Night at the school- Quesadillas and Rice

Tuesday- Broiled Tilapia Parmesan, couscous, and garlic broccoli

Wednesday- Cheer Practice- Roasted potatoes, sausage and onions

Thursday- Football game- Pierogi Chicken Lasagna(new recipe) and garlic bread

Friday-(My DD is going to sleep over so its just me and the boys)- BBQ Chicken Pizza(new recipe)

Saturday- My Daughters 7th Birthday! So we are going to eat wherever she wants!

Sunday- Her party is this day so we will do leftovers to make it easy!

As always, head over to The Organizing Junkie for more fantastic menu plans!

Pumpkin Gingerbread from Cyndy

These are amazing!

My house smells like fall!

And if you have read my Texas post earlier this week, you know that we just don't get fall around here! So to make my house smell like fall is awesomeness!

These muffins are light, fluffy, and oh so moist! I have eaten 2 already. *blushing*

You can get the recipe over at Daily Cynema. My friend Cyndy has tons of other recipes on her site, even some awesome looking Greek cuisine!

What's the password?

I don't know about you, but I have a ton of passwords for lots of online pages that I have such a hard time remembering! I keep tons of emails that have the passwords and it makes my inbox a big old mess!

Brandy over at Not So Average Mama has a great giveaway right now for this nifty little book organizer that can store all your online passwords in one convenient location!

It is ending tonight, October 2nd, so enter now!