Since I've gotten so thrilled with couponing I'm constantly looking for ways to add to my coupon stash. I don't get the Sunday paper for several reasons. Cellfire won't let me sign in to it no matter what after the first time I did it . . . something seems to be messed up with my Kroger number. And I don't get much else that has coupons EXCEPT that I just got my first "All You" magazine today in the mail after signing up a few weeks ago when someone posted a terrific deal on it that beat the "stand price" all hollow!

So . . . the printable coupons, plus my "All You" coupons. And that leaves this coupon-hungry woman longing for more! It finally sunk into my head (DUH!!!) this week that our library has long had a coupon exchange! I went there Thursday evening (and yes, I'll blog more about Thursday but not tonight--the telling of the day deserves a fresh brain to tackle it!) and settled down at the table and went through SOME of the massive amounts of coupons there, and came home with a stack that was big enough to make any coupon-Her (yes, that was intentional!) happy! Coupons like this: $3.00 off on the brand of razors my hubby uses! What's NOT to like about THAT?!

What did it cost me for this stack of fabulous coupons?? Just some more of my time. And since I have more time than money these days . . . well . . . it was time well worth spent--like being paid some serious money for the 30 minutes I sat there! I am not joking when I say I "made" more in that 30 minutes than my husband mades working in an hour the last while! And there were TONS of goodies left for the next woman. I know where to go with the coupons I won't be using from my magazines. They can bless someone else when I put them there the next time I go.

Check with your library. If they don't have that "program", perhaps they'd be willing to add it to their list of services if they were asked. At my library, it's just a big index card box (probably the largest size they make) sitting on a table that isn't too busy, along with a sign announcing that it's a "Coupon Exchange". People come, browse, take what they need, and leave what they don't want. Simple as that! As long as users are willing to pull out and discard any expired coupons they notice when flipping through, it should be a great system for any library, I would think.

I wish I'd thought to take before and after photos today. Todd got his first professional haircut ever today at the Wal*mart hair salon--and the difference it made in his appearance was astounding! For starters, he needed a hair cut badly--and had been for awhile! Second, due to how curly his hair is, Paul has had fits trying to cut it ever since Todd decided to wear it longer. It kinks, it curls, and no matter what Paul tried, it never looked really GREAT any more. OK, yes, but not a really good haircut. Todd stresses horribly while he's having his hair cut, and usually ends up disgruntled and frustrated afterwards.

For the last while, Paul and I have been trying hard to think of things that could be important to teach Todd to have him more prepared for adulthood, and then work through those. One of the things we came up with was getting a hair cut done professionally. Since getting his hair cut even as a youngster was Soooo stressful to him,  we never thought before it was a good idea to risk getting his hair cut in public! But we are well aware that Daddy isn't always going to be around to do it. Todd needs to learn to know how to go into a hair shop and make sure he can order what type of hair cut he wants.

We started preparing him several months ago by informing him that a professionally done haircut was in his future. We talked about why it was important, and Todd was very open to the idea. And even today when I told him that today was the big day, he seemed fine with it--just a tiny, tiny bit nervous, but not even overly so.

Off we went, and to my delight and surprise, Todd ended up LOVING the experience. He said it was so much less stressful for him--that the stylist used scissors almost the whole time (he's always seriously minded the noise of the hair clippers, as well as the feel of it), that the salon was quieter--no siblings making comments about how much his looks were changing due to the hair fall off his head in great swathes--and "no one running around and almost getting into the hair and making Daddy stressed!" He even let the stylisht shampoo his hair (SHOCK  . . GASP. .  THUMP!) and walked out of the shop looking incredibly good-looking! She managed to keep his hair longer on top like Todd likes, thinned out the thickness so it's more of a a lot of tight curls, and still tamed his sides and back of head. Also, she used a hair softening product which actually is actually fairly healthy looking, based on the ingredients, and that allowed his natural curls to be softer and not so frizzy.

It was such a good experience for Todd that he's ready to go back any time! WHEW . . . what a blessing! Now .. . what else is important to make sure Todd knows and understands before he becomes an adult?!

Todd's 17th birthday meant that he got to choose the menu for Tuesday evening supper. We had home-made pizza, and bread sticks. Kristina did the pizza, and Charity the herbed bread sticks, since I had a long list of errands to run this afternoon. Paul and I cleaned up the kitchen together afterwards--one of the perks of having him back in town!

Todd got a few small "token" gifts tonight. . . .his big gift is coming on Thursday after his flight lesson. We told him that in his birthday card, so he knows something is coming down the pike. . . .  I'm sure he'll be pleased once he finds out what is going on. And that is all I'm saying for now.

The bed we got Saturday is sitting around in the girl's room. It's going to need some repair work done it, and we have decided to paint it white to make it fit more in with Charity's bed--would have been nice if the beds were a more similar style, but I think with painting it the same shade of white, they'll be fine together. So it's going to be a bit before Kristina can use the bed. She's eager to get into it though!

Would each of you who are reading my blog today say a prayer for Miss Katya?? She NEEDS A MOMMY AND DADDY!!!

And would you be willing to give up a candy bar, a bag of chips, that scented candle . . . your cup of coffee . . . or the latest new gadget that you really want, and go make a donation to help her parents that I am trusting God to provide, be able to adopt her? Please scroll down the page until you find Katya's info, then make a donation labeled for her. Thank you, and God bless! You will be helping to save HER LIFE. Literally.

Chad, to Kristina:  "You look like an angel!"

Kristina doesn't comment. Chad again repeats, "You look like an ANGEL!"

Kristina then says, "Do I?"

Chad confirms. "Yes, you do."

Kristina again questions him, "I really look like an angel?"

Chad says, "Yes--I'm a KING!" in this most exultant tone of voice!

LOL!

I love eavesdropping on the two of them.

http://beadingtochina.blogspot.com/

Definitely worth checking out .  . . a family trying to raise $24,000 to go back to China to adopt the sister their little son is sure is waiting for them there. Christmas gifts, anyone?!

Even if you can't buy, posting the link to their site would be very helpful. And most of all, prayers for them.

Today on the way to Science class, Chad said ever so sweetly, "Todd, you are nice."

Todd said, "No, I'm not."

Chad said, "Yes, you are."

Todd again repeated, "No, I'm not, Chad" adding then, "I bumped you yesterday and split your lip."

Chad again ever so sweetly and lovingly said, "Todd, you ARE nice."

I told Todd, "You better just tell him thank you! He realizes it was an accident and forgave you a long time ago."

It's so fun to have Chad expressing what's on his heart. (Well, MOST of the time it's so fun!)

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Charity's group teacher has decided to do a group lesson every week now instead of once a month. That is going to make my Wednesday's a little fuller, but Charity is excited about the chance to increase her learning time. The emphasis right now is on Christmas songs, so I'm looking forward to the sounds of beautiful Christmas songs being played in our home!

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Our order with winter boots for Chad arrived today. Thankful to have boots without holes for him now! He chose the same exact color he's been wearing for the last two years--green.

And in other, not so pleasant news. . . . we have once again been battling a mouse infestation the last few weeks. In spite of catching several in the house, there were more running around, as this photo that my children showed me yesterday after I got home from running errands proves!

"WHAT is the cat doing coming INTO the house with a mouse?!" was of course my immediate question!!!

While Mama is away . . . . ??!

Here's what happens when I get a second wind  . . . instead of curling up with a good book like I thought I was going to do, I rummage in my sewing room closet and come out with  . . . THIS.

A thrifted mini-mini Skirt with built in shorts in . . . size 18. (We'll by-pass any discussions about all of that). Gorgeous fabric--97% cotton and 3% spandex  . . with the sweetest scallops and wide grosgrain ribbon . . . and just PERFECTLY matching the blues in the picture above the love seat in our bedroom! Purchased a number of months ago, it's languished in the closet, waiting until it could be transformed into something useable of beauty.

You can't imagine?? Well, come along and see . . . .

Charity and I set to work with seam rippers, ripping out all the seams that fastened the shorts to the skirt.

And then we took out the zipper.

The skirt was laid on the floor and carefully marked with a fabric marker before cutting to help straighten the sides..

I sewed the new side seams back together. Top stitched down the scalloped edge just below the grosgrain ribbon.

Then, I seamed up the back zipper area. Not satisfied with the facing still flapping around, I next ripped that off, and  seamed up all the opening except for a small area just big enough to stuff a pillow form in!

Here's the almost finished project.

I was going to slip-stitch the top edge closed, but changed my mind . . . the top edge is going to be seamed up completely.  I'll open up some of the top stitching by the scallops, and use some snaps to close that area after the pillow form is in place. That will be neater, and more practical for washing.

I'm sure once the project is completely finished, I will be very pleased with it;  it's going to be a nice addition to my love seat! (No, it's not slip-covered yet . . . that's still coming one of these days . . it's OK to do the pillows first, right? Maybe after the pillows are all done I'll have my courage screwed up enough to tackle the bigger project!)

And the good news?? Charity has a project in mind already for those shorts that were inside the skirt! It's so fun to make something new from a thrifted item.