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2014: Memorial Day Activities

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2014: Memorial Day Activities

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

This weekend is dedicated to remembering those who gave their lives fighting for our freedoms.

From e-mails and Facebook posts to these 6 ways to say thank you to our troops, we can each participate this Memorial Day.

As you gather with family and friends for delicious cookouts this Memorial Day, remember those who fought and died for the freedoms we have today.

In honor of their sacrifice and to thank all those who defend our freedoms, participating businesses are offering the following offers to military families for this Memorial Day:

As offers vary from location to location, please verify your local establishment’s participation. In using time wisely, celebrate those who are serving and honor those who gave their all.

Happy Memorial Day!

End-of-the-School-Year Thank You Notes and Gifts

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End-of-the-School-Year Thank You Notes and GiftsAccepting a teacher’s offer today to allow my girls to join her class’s movie afternoon, we stayed at school until pickup.

With the movie running for about 2 hours, I brought in a few projects. While watching my girls and listening to the movie, I wrote out thank you notes.

Since I typically seize these types of opportunities, I usually come prepared with a few different projects.

Today, I had my stack of thank you notes along with my blogging notebook and curriculum catalogs. Needing to get the thank you notes written, I consulted my list and started writing.

Before the movie ended, I had all my thank notes complete which freed up time this evening to prepare the gifts of homemade sourdough bread. Yum!

My bread starter needs 3 ingredients each week. I store the liquid starter in my refrigerator until I need to feed it the three ingredients. With a 4-step process, my sourdough bread takes 2 days to make, but I only spend around 10-15 minutes in those two days actually making the bread.

End-of-the-School-Year Thank You Notes and GiftsThis morning when I entered the kitchen, I was met by this overflowing bowl of dough ready for the next step in the process.

After dividing the dough into 6 bread pans, I left the dough to rise. This evening, I baked the bread and packaged the gifts for a couple special friends and my children’s teachers.

In planning our end-of-the-school-year thank you notes and gifts, I chose to hand write notes and bake loaves of bread.

If you have a signature cookie, bread, or snack, then you have the makings of an end-of-the-school-year gift. Pair your specialty with a thank you note and dote on your favorite teachers and friends. Happy planning!

Question: How do you prepare for the end-of-the-school-year thank you notes and gifts? 

2014: FREE Printable Mother’s Day Cards

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2014: FREE Printable Mother’s Day Cards

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Psst! Did you remember that tomorrow is Mother’s Day?

It’s OK if you forgot, because you still have options.

Besides the FREE 8×10 photo enlargement through Walgreens, you can access free printable Mother’s Day cards via the following links:

With these printable options, you can print, sign, and give to the special mom, mother-in-law, sister, aunt, grandmother, or friend in your life.

The whispering continues in our household. After school, the backpacks disappeared upstairs to find hiding places for items they brought home. Later, the backpacks were put back in their usual places.

Now, we wait to see if they can keep a secret. Meanwhile, Miss 6 has come downstairs to get markers as she says she is working on a special project for this weekend.

Our Sunday is going to be exciting. I look forward to seeing and hearing about their tokens of love and appreciation. Happy planning for a great Mother’s Day!

Walgreens: FREE 8×10 Photo Enlargement through May 10, 2014

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Walgreens: FREE 8x10 Photo Enlargement through May 10, 2014

Photograph Credit: Walgreens

Just in time for Mother’s Day, Walgreens released a promotional code for a FREE 8×10 enlargement on any single photograph.

You will need to login or sign up for a FREE Walgreen’s account, upload your photograph, and checkout.

At checkout, enter promotional code ENLARGEIT, choose store pickup, and place your order.

This FREE offer is valid through Saturday, May 10, 2014, with a limit of one FREE enlargement per account. Though your order must be placed by midnight, you may pick up your enlargement when you are by your selected Walgreens.

With Walgreens locations nationwide, you could send a Mother’s Day gift by asking a relative or friend to pick up the enlargement at a Walgreens near the recipient.

In using time wisely, order your FREE 8×10 photo enlargement from Walgreens by Saturday, May 10, 2014. Happy saving!

Happy Mother’s Day!

2014: Mother’s Day Activities, Crafts, Deals, and Gift Ideas

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2014: Mother’s Day Activities, Crafts, Deals, and Gift Ideas

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Hearing the whispering from their bedrooms and the hushes as I walk by, I know my children are up to something.

What are they up to? I’m not totally sure, but listening to the snickering cracks me up.

In the midst of secrecy, enjoy these Mother’s Day activities, crafts, deals, and gift ideas:

Mother’s Day Activities

Mother’s Day Crafts

Mother’s Day Deals

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

  • FREE dozen of red roses – hurry this offer is only available while supplies or for 24-hours (expiring on May 8, 2014)
  • FREE printable Mother’s Day poem

With preparations underway at my house, I am enjoying the tiptoeing, secret meetings, and entertainment involved in arranging Mother’s Day. Though I already saw the notes from the Zaxby’s Kidz Club in the mail, I look forward to seeing their artwork and tokens of love.

In using time wisely, these Mother’s Day activities, crafts, deals, and gift ideas are just suggestions as you honor the ladies in your life on Sunday, May 11, 2014 . Happy planning!

Question: What additional Mother’s Day resources would you add to this list?