About Us 
I am a stay at home mom with four wonderful kids. I have been married for over 10 years to my best friend. I am head over heels in love with him. He always supports my crazy "thrifty adventures". We have a lot of fun together.
I was raised on a small dairy farm. Where I learned very young, the value of hard work and how to be thrifty in all areas of life. Growing up our meals were made from scratch. Only on special occasion would we get name brand cereal, chips, or any other fancy treats. Now that I am a Mom with my own budget, the basic foods always comes first. I too make most of our meals from scratch and take pride in feeding my family a well balanced healthy diet.
I enjoy seeing how far I can make our budget stretch, and when I take the time to match sales with coupons I am able to get all those "fun & fancy" items that would other wise be out of my budget. Being thrifty has always been a way of life for me, but it has also become a real joy.
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Lynsie
February 15th, 2012 at 9:01 pm
I tried a sample of it and loved it! I like u on FB too 
What is on a the menu at our house?
I get an email at least once a week asking me what I feed my family. Most of them are just wanting to learn how to cross over from the habit of shopping daily for that days menu plan. While others are convinced we eat nothing but processed food. They see the photos of what I buy that week and can not seem to wrap their brain around the idea of cooking from that weeks promo items and your stockpile.
Some of you “type A” personality’s are much more organized than me, and I am sure there is a rotation chart or something fancy that would make menu planning easier. But I do what works for me, I plan my meals around the fresh promo items that I get that week. As well as what I get in my Bountiful Basket that week. I then use my food storage or stockpile items, as well as freezer items to plan my meals.
Being that I do not write my menu out a week in advance I am sharing last weeks menu with you! Hope it helps you understand that eating from your stockpile can be made a way of life, is both rewarding and thrifty!
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
- Breakfast- Cranberry Orange Pancakes in a heart shape, and grape juice
- Lunch- Left over soup, and bread and butter and apple slices
- Dinner- Picked up Mongolian BBQ Valentines Day with my kids ( Matt was working)
 Wednesday
- Breakfast- Ham and Cheese omelet
- Lunch- Cottage Cheese and Cucumber spears
- Dinner-Chicken Cordon Bleu, green salad and rice
 Thursday
 Friday
Saturday
Would you like to win enter to win FREE Coupons for 15 bottles of Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce.
Three winners will be picked, each will win 5 coupons.
To enter to win
- Leave a comment on this post telling me if you have tried Country Bobs, or what you want to eat it on.
More ways to enter to win ( leave a comment for each, or tell us you already to the following)
- Like A Thrifty Mom on Facebook page
- Post or share one of our daily posts on you Facebook wall, or Tag us on your Wall.
Thanks to Country Bobs for sending me 2 bottles of his All Purpose Sauce to try out. I had never tired his sauce before so in my mind I was expecting a version of BBQ sauce, something you would just eat on meat. But much to my surprise County Bobs has TONS of recipes on his site so you are bound to find one to please your family… they even have one for Fudge (with a kick). I decided to play it safe and stick to the basics as I wanted to really taste the product. So I just added 3 table spoons of sauce to 1 lb of group beef, an egg and a bit of bread crumbs to bring it all together. Grilled them up and they were delicious! The sauce did not over power the meat, instead it really complimented it. My 6 year old who does NOT like hamburgers told me… Hmmm these are pretty good and actually ate hers all up. Huge thumbs up for that! To see where it is sold in your area click here, or order online (not sold in my local stores  )
I think what I was most surprised that it is was not BBQ sauce… instead it really does fit its name as an all purpose sauce. I found I liked it on my corn, beans, and to dip my oven baked fries in. In fact I found myself licking it off my fork, to make sure I got every last bit of it. It really is rather tasty and I loved it!
Little bit of info about Country Bob…
You can like them on Facebook Here, or Follow them on Twitter here.
In 1968 Country Bob perfected the sauce of his dreams. After years of giving the sauce to friends and family he began to sell it in 1977. The reaction was overwhelming just as it is today. Almost everyone who tries Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce becomes a lifelong user. And why not, it is the perfect complement to practically any meal set on your table.
Along with our All Purpose Sauce we have expanded our product line to include BBQ Sauce, Seasoning Salt and Spicy All Purpose Sauce. With our fully automated bottling line we also have the capability of producing Private Label products for stores or restaurants.
Thanks to Country Bob for providing with the product and providing coupons for the giveaway as well. I was not paid for this post and all opinions are my own. Last day to enter the giveaway is 02/29/12 at 10pm mtn time. You must supply a valid email address at time of posting comment. We never sell or trade emails. Winner will be chosen by Random.org. Giveaway is promoted by A Thrifty Mom.com as a media outlet. Winner must live in the USA, 18 years or older and void where prohibited. Prize pack will she shipped buy the sponsor of the gift pack.
 Readers Thrifty Tip to Remove Hard Water Stains:
Every time anyone in our home showers or bathes we wipe down the walls and facets, shower heads with a towel . This takes a minute to wipe off the water, but your shower looks brand new! My shower/bath are 6 years old and look just as good now as when it was installed. I used to spend money every week to purchase hard water removal cleaners, now i use them every 6 months or so on the walls and shower doors. Just try it one week and you will be happily surprised at the results!
Thanks Linda!
What are some of your Thrifty Tips for hard water issues?
Like around the faucet, sink, maybe even car windows?
Photo Credit and Idea from Kaboose
Kaboose posted this fun finger puppet idea that I thought was rather cute. My kids are home from school today for Presidents day so I thought it would be a fun afternoon craft project! Learning and creating are always a good combo
What you’ll need:
- Blue and black construction paper
- Cellophane tape
- Lincoln-head penny
- Washington-head quarter
- Scissors
How to make it:
- Cut two three-inch squares, one from each of the construction sheet colors.
- Roll each square into a tube that will slip over your finger. Secure the roll with cellophane tape. Note: By using tape instead of glue, the coins won’t be harmed.
- To make the Lincoln puppet, tape the penny to the black paper tube at roughly an inch below the top.
- Cut a thin rectangle from the black paper for the hat brim. Tape the brim along the top of the head.
- To make the Washington puppet, tape the quarter to the top of the blue paper tube.
- Cut a one-and-half-inch square from the blue paper for the hat.
- Fold the square in half, corner to corner, making a triangle.
- Cut a slit out of the center fold of the square to make an opening. Once again fold the square in half, this time folding the opposite corner to corner, making a triangle.
- Slip the hat over the top of the tube finger puppet.
- Tape both halves of the triangle together.
What is a Mommy Moment, click here
Last week Matt was out of town for 5 days, he went to a bloggers conference. I had wanted to go and I was trying to decide if I should go or not. But after watching the show Courageous I felt very strongly that this time I should stay home with my little ones. Knowing I would be home alone I asked my baby sister Millie (she lives 6 hours away) if she would like to come spend the week with me. Just the week before she finished getting her cosmetology program and earned her license. I am so proud of her!
My sister is 10 years younger than me so I was grown and out of the house for over half her childhood… but we are still close and I love spending time with her. My girls think that Aunt Millie is just about as fun as they come, since everyday is a spa day when she is here. She paints their toe nails, puts flowers and sparkles on their finger nails. She does their hair everyday so they look like they are ready to go to prom on something.
Having my little sister here was so much fun, the 5 days flew by. In 11 years of being married I have never had my her come stay with me overnight (instead she would always stay at my parents and I would go visit them) , it was so nice to reconnect and giggle till all hours of the night. The amazing thing about sisters is… they know you, understand you, what a wonderful gift to have 2 sisters in my life (plus my 4 wonderful sister in-laws as well)
After watching the movie Courageous I knew I was suppose to stay home… I thought it was for my kids. But I now realize it was for me! I needed that time with my sister, to recharge, reconnect and giggle just because we are girls.
I invite you to find time this week to call, write or let your sisters know how much you love them!
Wonder where the photos are of my little sis are… well she does not mind being “Sarah’s” little sister… but being A Thrifty Mom’s little sister and being posted in front of a national readership is not really her idea of fun…lol
 Do not forget to enter to win our current giveaway for 3 coupons for free packages of Pasta Prima Ravioi and a Cuisinart 755-26GD Chef’s Classic Stainless Steel 5-1/2-Quart Multi-Purpose Pot with Glass Cover. If you would like to enter to win CLICK HERE for all the details. Giveaway ends 2/27
Falling in Love with your Family by Alison
In a Nutshell: State expectations instead of asking Stupid Parent Questions
 (By Bill Watterson)
Does this scenario sound familiar? Maybe a little too familiar? Most parents could easily qualify for the SPQ Hall of Fame. What?! You’ve never heard of this elite recognition? SPQ’s are Stupid Parent Questions and I’ve earned my share of fame in the past 14 years. I don’t know where SPQ’s come from, but they must be programmed into our DNA because parents use them almost universally. You’ve probably heard variations on these common ones:
Where do you think you are going in those shorts!?!
How many times have I told you to close the door behind you!?!
Do you think money grows on trees!?!
Do you want to go to time-out!?!
Why did you color on mommy’s wall!?!
What am I going to do with you!?!
SPQ’s practically beg, “Pleeaasse…pretty pretty pleeaasse …answer with a smart-aleck remark!” If you ask your child, “How many times do I have to tell you to finish your homework?” don’t be shocked and appalled if they answer, “79.” Really, how can a kid resist it? What did you expect?
Generally, SPQ’s can be rephrased as statements of expectation. A child misbehaving at the park shouldn’t hear over and over from a bench-glued parent, “Do you want to go home!?!” Instead Mom could go to the misbehaving child, look her firmly in the eye and say, “Stop throwing sand. That hurts eyes. If you play nicely, we’ll stay at the park.” Then if one more grain of sand flies, the kid is loaded in the car.
For another example, imagine a child playing video games instead of taking out the trash as he’s been asked. Dad walks into the room and says, “What are you doing!?!” The child is obviously playing video games, as even the most technology-challenged adult could see. Simply state an expectation: “You need to take out the trash before you play games.” Or, if this is a pattern, impose a consequence: “Because you chose to play instead of taking out the trash, you’ll need to wait until tomorrow to use your game system again.”
Be direct, consistent, and calm by stating expectations, not sarcastic, exasperated, and a little on the dippy side by constantly asking questions that have no real answers. SPQ’s generally just invite confrontation and put more emphasis on the wrong behavior instead of on the expectation of good behavior. Recognize when you use SPQ’s, and be done with them. Besides, how many times do I have to tell you? They make parents sound pretty dumb.
Fess up! What are your best Stupid Parent Questions? Make a comment below.
Would a $50 visa gift card come in handy… make sure you enter to win our current giveaway for Aquaphor skin care products and a $50 visa gift card! Today 2/18 is the LAST day to enter to win. Click here to enter to win and for all the details.
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