Wordless Wednesday

Four Hours in the Life of our family

Cook'n Recipe Organizer Review and Giveaway

Whether preparing a home-cooked meal for loved ones, printing a family cookbook, making a menu to simplify meal preparations, analyzing nutrition to help you eat healthier, or syncing a shopping list to your mobile device to save time and money at the grocery store, Cook'n puts your favorite recipes at your fingertips to help you create the things that make mealtime enjoyable.

If you follow my blog you know that I Menu Plan every week. Menu planning saves us in our busy lives. It also helps us so much financially because I try to actually menu Plan a month at a time. I came across this new software called Cook'n Recipe Organizer

I love it. It already has so many recipes that came with the software. It has an area that helps you with menu planning, you can search for new recipes and add them to your files. It helps you store, organize and plan your meals, recipes and ideas. What a great concept.

The Easiest Way to...

• Find the Best Recipes on the Internet
• Capture and Save Internet Recipes
• Enter Your Own Personal Recipes
• Sync Recipes with iPhone, iPad, & Android
• Print a Family Cookbook
• Analyze Nutritional Values
• Make Menus, Shopping Lists & More!
• Get Free Cookbook with Purchase

 I know for working mom's this software has a great aspect that so many do not. That is it can be used in a mobile format. So while you are sitting at work eating your lunch you can also multitask and create your weekly menu. You could even use the mobile ability while you were at the grocery store getting your weekly items, maybe you see something on sale and need a quick recipe to incorporate it into your plan. The possibilities are endless.

Click on images to enlarge

Enter Your Own Recipes... Easily

It's easy to enter your family recipes into Cook'n and organize them into categories. The Cook'n Recipe Window looks just like a recipe card and "Quick-Fill" editing does much of the typing for you! Even add recipe photos and video if you'd like.
 

Capture Recipes from the Internet

Finding recipes on the Internet is fun... but printing them just adds to the clutter. Instead, simply cut and paste Internet recipes into Cook'n and keep them in one central database for easy access!
 

Menus & Shopping Lists

With Cook'n you can simply drag recipes into the days of the week to create a menu. Learn More
Plan the right meals for the right day or time of year. Use this tool to balance out your family's nutrition and budget! Use your menus to automatically generate shopping lists! Learn More

BUY IT: If you just can’t wait for the giveaway to end, or would like to gift Cook’n to a favorite friend or family member that loves to cook, you’re in luck! Cook’n is offering all Growth in God readers a specialized coupon code that will give you a 50% discount on your total purchase! Nice, huh?!
** Use coupon code: mb-growth at checkout to receive your discount.

Risk-Free 200% Guarantee Means You Can’t Lose

If you are not completely satisfied with the quality of your Cook'n Software, I will refund your purchase! In fact, I will go one step further and buy you the recipe software product of your choice. So, order today and join the Cook'n Family!

• Valid for 30 days from purchase date.

WIN IT: Growth in God will be giving away one FREE copy of the Cook'n Recipe Organizer 
Version 10 software (an $80 value) to one lucky reader! Complete the mandatory entries in the Rafflecopter form below to WIN. ** OPEN WORLDWIDE **

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Mom Blog Society. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers

 

What we have been up to

Thursday Kenzei had a Choir UIL concert, it was really neat being able to listen and watch these girls Sight Read a sheet of music they had never seen. After a four minute coaching session I would have guessed their was one error in the entire piece. I can't wait to see them perform next thur at their competition.

Zekaryah had a track meet thur night, since I attended Kenzei's event I missed it. He ran the first mile in a half race coming in 6th place with 22 boys. Not bad at all.

The second race was a mile and his time was 5.55. That is really good!

Friday we started helping Jakob with a Spanish III project. He had to write and memorize a 1-3 min speech on his pinata, which he also had to make. He decided on a Day of the Dead theme to represent Mexico. It turned out really good. He got a 92 on the Speech and then the pinata raised his grade to a 96, she gave him 4 extra points because he did impressive work, which of course we helped him with. It took Friday evening, Saturday morning and evening and Sunday morning to complete it.

This is the back, really cool. He competed Saturday at a Math UIL all day. He came in second place for his division, very impressive.

Today I worked on a Baby Genius Quilt order. I really love doing these. The customer picked out this cute tool fabric that I recommended. I hope her son loves this quilt.

Menu Planning Monday

Monday
Crock Pot Pork Roast, Potatoes and carrots

Tuesday

Boiled Eggs and toast - kids on their own tonight

Wednesday 

Shake n Bake Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and corn

Thursday

Nachos

Friday

BLT's or  Taco Salad

Saturday

Sausage Sandwiches with Bell-peppers and Onions

Sunday

Waffles

Grocery List

eggs $1.69 18 ct

bacon 2 for $5

bread

milk
Orange Juice 2 for $5

carrots

potatoes $1 bag

chicken $ 1 lb
hamburger 2.49 lb

lettuce $1 a head

green and red tomato 69 cents lb
Avocados 2 for $1

cilantro
limes 5 for $1
lemons 4 for $1
tomatillas
3 onion
4 bell pepper 4 for $1
2 bunches bananas 29 cents lb

sausage $2.99

8 Refried beans- large can $1 each

Spent $72 this week, way high but we are making two batches of salsa at a request of a friend.

Tackle it Tuesday

I am thankful to a previous customer who shared a quilt I made for her with someone that she knew, that led to this quilt order. Word of mouth is the greatest way to gain business.

This is a collection of her daughter's Softball shirts. There were only 9 shirts but I managed to use backs to create a 12 Shirt lap quilt. It is made with a  denim like blue fabric and has a denim like cotton flannel on the back.

This number 9 shirt was falling apart. The blue portion had lifted away from the shirt. I used a simple embroidery stitch to put it back together so that the shirt could be used. I also used portions from the tank top corners to embroider on the quilt itself so that every memory of the shirts provided would be represented in the quilt. I had worked on this as my Tackle it Tuesday but I had not gotten the binding done until this morning. SO I am posting it a little late.

WordFilled Wednesday

Lent

My early church days began in the Church of Christ Church. It was a little church around the corner from our house. At the time the pastor and his wife lived right across the street from this church. I attended every Sunday, sometimes with my younger brother and sister with me, sometimes alone. At this time my parents didn't go to church with us. They had us gives give something up every year for Lent. One year I gave up chocolate because the teacher said I needed to give up my favorite thing. I do remember how hard that was. My mom often baked chocolate chips cookies or would make chocolate cake, esp one that had these red cherries on it at Eater. At that time we did not give it up for just the season of Lent, they had us make it an entire year commitment. However, I remember as a child having the impression that something bad would come upon us if that commitment were to be broken.

As my life of a child continued to sixth grade my mother decided we would start going to a Lutheran church. I remember the traditions of Lent being very different. There were Wednesday night services, you gave something up between Ash Wednesday and Easter. We had a feast sometime during the period of Lent. It had a whole lot of doctrine in the church services with certain songs, creeds etc taking place. Even the colors and flowers in church changed. I can't tell you I remember what I gave up.

I would say that my children have lived a less rule oriented Christian life. We have attended non denominational churches since I was pregnant with our daughter. They realize most of the attributes of the Christian Calendar meaning Advent, Lent and so forth. I wanted to make an impact this year. I didn't want to lean to the tradition of giving something up necessarily but choosing a couple things one to do during the Lent season and one to do all year to increase the benefit in my life. 

I struggle with exercise. I have not exercised regularly in 10+ years. I do not make the time for it. I often think I should get on the treadmill and walk but I don't do it. I will be honest in that in the last 5 years or so I don't even sleep the same hours, I don't eat three meals a day...the list goes on. I am going to use this Lent season to refocus how I live my life. So starting with today I will exercise during my afternoon show that I watch nearly every day Monday-Friday. I will also make it a point to have fish every Friday or Saturday since I know for me the benefits of the Omega 3 for my bipolar and seizures are tremendous. I have even decided that if for some reason I have to be at the school, teach etc during the afternoon that I will make the commitment to work out that evening. It seems my husband is on board too as he started his work out last night. I think this will be a wonderful commitment for our marriage too. Something we can do to encourage one another. My oldest son says what we are giving up is time, so I guess depending on how you look at it that might be the case.

Here is a description of lent and its purpose.

The traditional purpose of Lent is the penitential preparation of the believer—through prayer, penance, repentance, almsgiving, and self-denial. Its institutional purpose is heightened in the annual commemoration of Holy Week, marking the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events of the Passion of Christ on Good Friday, which then culminates in the celebration on Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

How are you going to spend this Lent season?

Menu Planning Monday

Monday 

Tacos

Tuesday

Spaghetti and Garlic Bread

Wednesday

French Toast

Thursday
Hamburgers and Hotdogs

Friday

Salmon and Dirty Rice

Saturday

Homemade French Bread Pizza

Sunday

Chicken Kabobs and Rice

Grocery List
Taco seasoning 3 for $1

corn tortillas

lettuce

bread

milk X 3 on sale 2.09

salmon

mushrooms

hot dogs X 2

HD/Ham buns

French Bread

moz cheese
Toliet Cleaner 10 part item sale
Purex laundry soap *coupon

Shaving Cream* coupon
cerealX4 *coupon
yogurt X10*coupon
This week $65.68 savings $16.66
I am a little over this week since they had a 10 participating  items sale so I had to use money from next week to get the discounted price savings with my coupons

Winners Announced for the Love Yourself Giveaway

Thank you to everyone who entered the Love Yourself Giveaway! Most of all, thank you to those who shared their inspiring stories and kind words in support of Domestic Violence survivors!

I also want to say a big thank you to all the amazing blogs and sponsors who participated in this giveaway! Be sure to visit their sites regularly & tell them thank you for participating! Frugal Fanatic, Thrifty Jinxy, Coupon Spice, Kat’s Cafe, Rainy Day Pennies, Tracer’s Coupon Affair, I am a Couponer, Food N Service, My Un-entitled Life, Meg’s Moxie, Madame Deals, This n That with Olivia, Suburban Coupon Mom, Coupon Savings in the South, Coping with Frugality, Money Saving Parent,Sunshine & Sippy Cups, Rewards Station, Front Page Freebies, CentsLess Deals,4 Little Monsters and Me, CEO of Me, Inc., Full Price? Never!, Cori’s Coupon Corner, Debt Free Spending, Sweeties Freebies, The Shopper’s Apprentice,Whole Lotta Mama, MyCouportiera, Growth in God, SAVING with a Working Mom,The Tales of Bubba & Mack, Pharmapack, Fit Moms for Life, Sunshine of Autumn, Scentsy Consultant Jennen Gonzalez, AVON Consultant Sandy Kearns,Zija Weight Management Consultant Christy Glass, Mary Kay Consultant Olivia Douglass and The Homestead Company.



Now to the WINNERS List!

All winners have been emailed so if you see your name here, be sure to check your email and reply within 72 hours to claim your prize!

• Grand Prize – Kindle Touch & $10Amazon.com Gift Card ($150 value) WINNER - Jessica Saroch

• $50 Pharmapacks.com Gift Certificate – WINNER - Melanie Butler von Bose

• Foot Spa Package from The Homestead Company ($35 value) – WINNER - Jennifer Hiles

• Fit Mom’s For Life Book and Downloadable DVD ($30 value) – WINNER- Bernice McKay

• Set of 3 Devotional Books from Women of Faith Knowing God’s Word- Luci Swindol Encouraging One Another Nicole Johnson and a Life of Worship ($30 value) - WINNER - Sue Ruiter Olsen

• Bath & Body Gift Set from AVON ($30 value) – WINNER- Becky Tolleson Floyd

• Scentsy Flutterby Warmer and Pink Pepper Scent Bar ($40 value) – WINNER - Molly Saccoman

• Mary Kay Pedicure Set ($22 value) – WINNER- Michelle Combs

• Zija 4 Day Weight Loss Kickstart($30 value) – WINNER - Sandy Baird

• Elain Colorist Catch Me Eye Shadow and Sparkle Stick Highlighter ($28 value) – WINNER - Dawn Schmidt Sando

Thank you again for taking a stand against domestic violence! Let’s continue to be BRAVE and help others become BRAVE too! Be sure to stick around to check out our other giveaways and helpful posts!

Tackle it Tuesday, Birthday and Valentines Day

Jakob turns 16. Happy with our Amazon find of two used games for under $25. I love that we stuck to our budget.

My Valentines Day gift- its for the window in the kitchen. It has rosemary, chives and cilantro. I am excited. I hope I can keep them all alive. I have wanted an Herb Garden for 17 years!

My Tackle it Tuesday. I don't have a name for the quilt yet.

Each center piece of the 9 Patch block is a special Frog fabric that my friend Diana sent me a while ago. I finally turned those 12 6 inch blocks into a quilt.

There are lots of other frogs fabrics, one with sunflowers, one with daisy's, then also butterflies and dragonflies

They are all bordered with a denim looking fabric. I just love this fabric! I had wanted to make this one for myself but since money is still pretty tight I will be finishing it up and listing it to sell. I pray it finds a lovely new home. I need to decide if I will use a denim color blue flannel or a special print.

Menu Planning Monday

Monday

Fajita Quesadilla (leftovers from Sunday into new meal)

Tuesday

Burritos (with leftover fajita meat)

Wednesday

Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes and Broccoli (missed Last Friday)

Thursday- Jakob gone

Fettuccine Alfredo

Friday- Jakob gone

Enchiladas

Saturday

Breakfast Tacos

Sunday
Lasagna/spaghetti

Grocery List

Milk 

eggs

tomato

broccoli

ricotta cheese

tortillas

bacon
loaf of bread
2 Potatoes
AAA Batteries
Welchs Cider- Jakob Birthday dinner
Limes
Cheerios*Coupon-Free
Granola BarsX3*coupon-Free for one box
Carrot Cake*coupon
Frosting*coupon
Muffin Mix*coupon
Yogurt*coupon
Prego *coupon
beans*coupon
Pillsbury cookies* coupon

fet noodles bought  last week Pasta 4 for $5
lasagna noodles** bought last week Pasta 2 for $4
alfredo sauce Bought last week 2 for $4
*Pork Chops in Freezer
Total Spent this week  $55.36

What I am Learning Friday

It is very hard to get out of DEBT

I cannot believe how many unexpected costs come up every month. I try to make a plan but it rarely works. I feel I am constantly adjusting money, lifestyle requests and encouraging my husband to take on more side jobs so that we can make ends meet. I am thankful to say we have done pretty well this month as far as taking our debt seriously and working to pay things down. I have had to make some tough decisions business wise too. For example I had purchased fabric in 2011 that I had intended to use for a couple of giveaway quilts in hopes that it would provide some "network advertising" for my quilting business. I reviewed where we were for the month this week and decided I needed to sell the quilt instead. I know there will be seasons where I can make deals for my quilts, where I can give some away and where I really need to buckle down- create more quilts- and sell them. It is hard when I have such a giving heart. 

I will say I never expected for us to be able to stretch food so well this week. One added bonus to my husband working a side job every evening is that he does not eat at home. My only out of pocket cost for him grocery wise was granola bars, peanuts, coffee and Orange juice. While I realize it cannot be like that all the time, it was very helpful in helping me pay for other bills that I did not expect.

I also found that while I really wanted Dave Ramsey's book and the library still has me in holding at 300+, that there were some FREE worksheets online. I understand the principles of his methods just by reading some blog posts and articles. It was the worksheets I was after just to help me think of things I forget about. I am excited to start reviewing these next week. For now our monthly bills are almost paid. I really dislike that our internet bill comes in mid month when I pay everything else pretty much the second week, I can't pay that one until the third week. I was able to pay off 7 different credit cards this month. They were all smaller ones but it leaves us with just two to try and manage and pay down. I am praying for monthly wisdom as we try to continue to do that during 2012.

I think our biggest obstacle just really looking deep into things is that I pay all the bills, I do all the filing, I do all the work. My husband does not pay anything but for food and gas, or whatever other store purchase he might make. I am not sure how we quite got here. I remember in our earlier years of marriage he was involved weekly, however, he waited tables and we worked primarily on cash. Sometimes I miss those days. My goal for March is to have him included in these bill paying sessions. We need to SCHEDULE time to do it TOGETHER. It is hard for one person to take this on completely and then the other doesn't realize quite how or where money is spent. I think we could make wiser decisions if we both knew the ins and outs of how our household runs. 

So while I have learned it is difficult I know that with the Lord nothing is impossible. 

I am thankful for his grace and mercy and for his many many blessings.

Thankful Thursday

I love Thankful Thursdays. 

Its a great time to reflect on the week and see how the Lord continues to move in our lives.

I am very thankful for the four days of overtime my husband has worked. It will pay for Jakob to go on his school trip next week. I had no idea how we were financing that.

I am thankful that the Lord helped me find the perfect dress for our daughters dance on Friday, even though it took more time than I realized it would.

I am thankful for the beginning of track season and that we were able to find three pairs of shoes on sale, our daughter just needing school shoes and our son needing both track and school shoes.

I am thankful that I talked to my dad this week. I sure miss him a lot and it is often so hard to have so many miles between us.

I am thankful that Paypal reimbursed us for the money Itunes charged. I have not gotten money back from the bank but some of it is better than none.

I am thankful that I was able to finish two beautiful quilts this week and begin a third one.

I am thankful for a new quilt order for quilting services from a friend. I love making quilts for her children.

I am thankful that our son will be able to start going to a reading/writing lab that will help him build on educational skills that he has trouble with.

I am also thankful for the check in the mail for the sewing machine that will allow me to plan our menu for the next few months, without stress over where grocery money is coming from.

Even though this week has been a little lonely I am thankful for all our blessings from our heavenly father.

Sharon's Garden Nine Patch Quilt

A quilt I made in Memory of my Mom. I am calling it Sharon's Garden.

This quilt reminds me of my mom. Her Christ like spirit. Her loving arms, her warm smile. Her ever-blooming garden in the spring.

I love my new quilt labels. Don't you? They were from Jennifer's Jewels on ETSY, she also has a facebook page. They are wonderful!

I love the wonderful colors of the blocks. The bright cheerful yellow border fabric and the very cute stripped handmade binding. I knew exactly what I wanted to use the binding fabric for when I saw it.

Quilt measures 52 by 69. It is a nice size lap throw. The backing is a comfy flannel- that is orange to match the front and the binding. This quilt screams Sunshine and Spring weather. Maybe a little summertime fun too. Its on sale at my ETSY page.. sorry it couldn't be a giveaway. I need business to return to normal numbers before I can give away quilts like this again. Many prayers are being said.