EVERYONE Already Pays For Abortions!!

Yep. I'm gonna go there. I'm going to talk about abortion. It's one of the few things about which the Libertarian Party & I disagree. They think it's a choice. I think it's murder and as such that we don't have a choice. I'm sure we can all agree that people on both sides of the issue tend to feel strongly.

What I don't get is why people are all of a sudden up in arms about having to pay for abortion regardless of their beliefs. It's one of the cries against the health care legislation (which is STILL unconstitutional...but I digress).

People, you're ALREADY paying for abortion!!!! This isn't anything new! Regardless of how you feel about it, I can guarantee you that taxpayer money & consumer money IS going to pay for abortions!

Right after Obama came into office, he signed legislation that overrode what Bush had done allowing our international aid money to help fund abortions in other countries. This happened a year ago...but it didn't start there either.

If you purchase anything from any company that supports the United Way; then you are paying for abortions. They help support Planned Parenthood which offers abortions hence YOU paying for abortions. Which companies support United Way? Last time I checked, pretty much EVERY big company did; Target, Wal-Mart, take your pick...the list goes on.

The ONLY way you are going to NOT pay for abortions is if you ONLY purchase from a local farmer who is 100% self-sufficient or only purchases items from farmers who are 100% self-sufficient or only purchase from farmers who are 100% self-sufficient...you get the idea. You'd also want to make sure that the farmer doesn't support any organizations who give money to United Way or any other company that gives to a company who offers abortion. You'd also want to make sure those farmers don't pay taxes because if they do then ultimately the money YOU gave them would help pay those taxes which would help fund abortions overseas which means that you're STILL helping to pay for abortions.

That's why I don't get that it's JUST NOW that people are getting upset about it. Why? Is it because you're REALLY upset that you're paying for abortions? Or is it because THIS TIME, the right-wing media TOLD you to be upset about paying for abortions?

Seems to me that if you're JUST NOW getting upset then perhaps it's because you've been TOLD to.

I realize there are some people who didn't have the knowledge of these things. Who's fault is that, though? The media's fault? Or your fault for not doing the research to know where your money is going & waiting until someone told you to get upset before you got upset?

I don't like that my money goes to pay for abortions. I'm also not willing to stop paying my taxes. I'm also not yet living on a homestead where I'm fully self-sufficient (though that is a dream of mine). As a result, I know that even though I don't like it & even though abortion is murder...I DO still help pay for it...and I'm not going to get upset now acting like it's the first time that this has ever happened. It's NOT! I was upset years ago when I found out about the United Way & purposed then to not give to their organization & to instead put my money elsewhere...so much as I could help it. I was upset when Clinton signed the bill into law allowing international aid money to fund abortions. I was upset when Obama did it again.

Do I LIKE that there's yet another way where I'm paying for abortions? NO! I'm also not going to pretend like it's just happening either, though...or that there aren't other ways in which I'm STILL going to be paying for abortions even if the healthcare bill didn't go through!

Do your OWN research, people, and QUIT relying on the media to tell you what to do, think, & believe!

SOS Mom Saver: Make Money on Prescriptions!

I think it's fairly safe to say that regardless of your views on the issue, most of us probably have health care on our minds right about now. I thought I'd use this opportunity to help you think of your prescriptions in an entirely different way.

I have a prescription that I have filled monthly (or every 3 months). I rarely have it filled without getting paid for it in some way. CVS, Walgreens, Target, & many local grocery stores will frequently have offers of gift cards in the amount of $10-$25 if you'll transfer your prescription to their pharmacy. If my script is at Walgreens, I transfer it to CVS & vice-versa.

I have been doing this for many years. I started taking regular meds 5 or so years ago & have been transferring ever since. The only time I didn't was when our insurance company required that all long-term meds be filled through mail-order. This was back before the local pharmacies offered mail-order themselves.

I can't even tell you how much I've made in gift cards over the years. Easily over a thousand. At least. I know that's a serious under-estimate because at one point I was on 3 meds every month every one of which was transferred to a different pharmacy with a new promotion every month. Most of those promotions were for $25-$35 each.

In other words, if you are on regular meds, you pretty much don't have to ever again pay out of pocket even for your co-pay if you play it right. Seriously.

These usually have a fairly long expiration date on them. For example, the most recent one for CVS came out this last Sunday (March 21st), but doesn't expire until May 4th. That gives you plenty of time to need to fill another script. Keep in mind that most insurance companies will allow you to fill one week before a monthly prescription is up & a full month before a 3 month prescription is up. If you're self-pay, you can fill them whenever you like so long as they're not a controlled substance & don't exceed the number of refills allowed by your doctor for the year.

No regular prescriptions to transfer? No worries! This might apply to you too! Most of these coupons specify in that pesky fine print that they also apply to new prescriptions. You never know when someone in your family might unexpectedly need a script filled. I'd say it's definitely worth it to hang on to the coupon until it expires just in case!

You can match these at some Wal-Mart stores, but that varies widely by location. I'd say it's at least worth a call to your local Wal-Mart to find out.

Some stores (not just Wal-Mart, but CVS, Walgreens, etc as well) will even match a competitor's coupon to keep you FROM transferring your prescription. If you're happy where you're at, it pays to ask. Don't think that because one store in a chain (CVS, Wal-Mart, Target, Walgreens, etc) tells you no that another won't do it. That's not necessarily true. Pharmacies have leniency in how they handle transfer coupons from store to store & region to region. Some will have more freedom than others depending on their district manager & even based on their sales that month (or the previous month). You might get a no this month, but a yes next month because their numbers were bad last month & they have to make up for it. In this case, you truly never know unless you ask...and you very well might get a yes!

Below is the offer that was put out by CVS this past Sunday. Note: This is only to give you an idea of what the coupons look like. This offer is NOT valid unless you have the original coupon which can be found in the weekly ad kept at the front of the stores, mailed to your home, or found in your Sunday paper. You CANNOT copy & print this & have it work!

It does say good at Nevada stores only. Don't worry. It said the same thing when we lived in Michigan & saw papers in Oklahoma. They make them state-specific so you can't trade for them online & get one from Florida to use in Nevada.

You will want to also note that if you have a prescription for a controlled substance (like a regulated pain killer such as morphine), you may not be able to easily transfer it from pharmacy to pharmacy. Some states as well as some localities have restrictions on this. Don't worry, they won't let you transfer the script if you can't. I just wanted to give you fair warning in case you encountered this.

If you have a regular prescription to fill, do you commonly use transfer coupons like this? If not, why?

What NOT to Say To Someone Who's Had a Miscarriage or How to Be Heartless

Let's take a poll, shall we?

What is the number 1 thing you DO NOT say to a woman who has just had a miscarriage?

I'll give you a hint, K?

Try THIS one on for size, "Have you ever thought that maybe God's causing your miscarriages because he doesn't think you should have any more kids? Something to think on."

REALLY?!?! Is that REALLY something for me to think on?

How about instead, you think on THIS you heartless...person (Sorry. That's all I've got right now.)...who OBVIOUSLY is a MUCH better Christian than I could EVER think of being...YOU DON'T SAY THAT TO A WOMAN WHO HAS HAD A MISCARRIAGE!!!!!

Did I yell loud enough for you? Did you hear it? Did you get it? You're not doing me a Christian service in the name of God by telling me that God actually CAUSED me to get pregnant and then CAUSED me to lose my baby!

Is that something you'd say to a mom who lost her 1 year old to cancer? Or their 5 year old to a genetic disorder? Is that what you say to a mom who has lost her entire family in a car accident? That God didn't want her to have a family anymore so He took them away? Of COURSE NOT!

SO WHY ARE YOU SAYING IT TO ME!?!?!?

Are you KIDDING me?!?!?!

There. I feel better.

I know there are other readers who've had miscarriages or who know women who have. Any thoughts you'd like to give? I promise not to call anyone else heartless.

Today.

SOS Mom Saver: Homemade Popcorn

Today's Mom Saver isn't just about saving money. It's also about helping your family become more healthy! A LOT of people have the misconception that being healthy costs more. In some cases, that is true. In some cases, though, being healthy can actually save your family money!

I think pretty much everyone has heard the dangers of microwave popcorn bags by now. There are concerns that the chemicals coating the inside of the bag can cause cancer. They also say that the chemical used to make the butter flavor can be problematic if inhaled.

Besides, honestly, which would you rather feed your family?

Which would you rather have your starting product be?

I know what MY answer is!

Like most people, I used to think that making my own popcorn would be some time-consuming task that I really didn't want to mess with. Either that, or I had to buy a special popcorn maker. And really? I don't need yet another gadget. I like to keep things simple.

I had heard that you could put popcorn into a brown lunch bag, fold it & cook it in the microwave just as you would a store-bought bag of microwave popcorn. That's all well and good, but we didn't have a microwave at the time and had no intentions of buying one. I needed something else.

I learned that you could very easily make popcorn right on your stove-top!

The only ingredients required are popcorn kernels and a high-heat oil. (I use Safflower oil.) You'll also need a pan with a lid.

Add 3tbs of oil to your pan.

Drop 1 kernel of popcorn into the oil & turn it on to high heat.

Once that kernel pops, then add the other kernels.

They're all in the pan now!

Put on the lid & get ready for it to pop!

(You might need to hold the lid on as the popping corn likes to knock it off. Be sure you wear a glove or potholder while doing this as the oil does splatter if you have any venting in your lid.)

Look at it popping!

You'll be able to easily see when the popcorn is done popping.

Almost Done!

It's done!

The popcorn will have a slight flavor from the oil so butter may not even be necessary.

Dump it into the bowl & enjoy!

How easy was that!

Answering the Census, Part II

Perhaps I was a bit harsh. I have been informed by certain parties that if I were a real Christian then I would do everything the government asks of me in the name of the Lord. (So as to remain a good witness, of course.) Well, I CERTAINLY don't want to be a bad witness. Instead, I've decided I WILL answer every single question asked of me in the census; even if I get the long form.

Honestly, though, I'm a little concerned. Last year, they sent a survey around called the American Community Survey. It was...shall we say...a little (as in majorly) invasive. I tried my best to be up front & honest when the census worker came because we hadn't answered the paper survey. I felt like they weren't too pleased with my answers for some reason, though. I cannot for the life of me imagine why. Here's a snippet of my answers:

Kids? Wow! That's such a hard number to come up with. Did you want the number of times we've TRIED to conceive kids or the details of when we were successful?

Ancestry? Hmmm. Does bi-polar paranoid schizophrenic with multiple personality disorder fit into that category? Not that we have any of that here.

Profession? Which day of the week and which hour of that day? I have approximately 4,586 titles. Would you like them all? Did I mention multiple-personality disorder yet?

Number of years we've lived WHERE? Oh. Here? Which time? Cause I lived here yesterday. And I live here today, but I'm not sure if I'll still live here tomorrow. You know what they say. Don't count your chickens until you put off till tomorrow what you could have done today. Or something like that.

Previous addresses? How long do you have?

You want a GPS reading? Of my front door? The front door of my car? The front door of my house? Or the other front door of my house? Or the other one? I have 3. My house has multiple front door disorder.

Sexual orientation? I think that's kind of private, but I love it when my husband does...What? Why are you stopping me? YOU asked!

Toilets that flush? Why? Do you need to use the restroom? No? Then why do you ask? Did my son pee in the front yard again?

Do we have weapons? Why? What did they tell you? Did you see something? I left the shovel out again, didn't I? Great. Now I have to...Why are you looking at me like that? What did I say? Multiple personality disorder? Where'd you get an idea like that?

Wait! Where are you going? You still have so many questions that I haven't answered...

Perhaps this year will be better? I can't wait.

The Census Taker Cometh...

...and the census taker wants to taketh away all of your info.

I get it. I'm no Shakespeare. Humor me, okay? Or laugh at me...or pity me...or something. Just don't give the census taker all of your information. Or your first-born child. I hear they'll take either.

What info are you required to give a census taker? Let's go to the "Bible" (so to speak) of the US: the Constitution of the United States of America.

First, we'll go to Article 1, Section 2:

"...The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years..."

Now, let's go to Section 2 of the 14th Amendment where they updated & amended Article 1, Section 2 to account for the prohibition of slavery:

"Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed..."

Perhaps you could help me. I'm having trouble finding where we have the Constitutional obligation to answer anything other than how many people reside at our household.

So...THAT is the one question that we will answer.

Weight Watchers Endorses McDonald's?

I have to be honest here and admit that I couldn't even get through this article. Instead, I stopped and checked my calendar. I wanted to be sure I hadn't missed the rest of March.

Surely this was an April Fool's joke. Right?

When I realized it was no joke, I went back and tried to read the article again. And again, I couldn't get past the part in the first paragraph where it says that Weight Watchers will endorse McDonald's.

Now I'm not perfect. I fully admit that once in awhile, we do partake of the chemicals that are called McDonald's food. I fully admit, however, that it is NOT health food. I KNOW what I'm eating! I know that the meal I just had will NOT help me shed any pounds and might not even really be considered food. It is with FULL acceptance of this fact that I choose to partake.

I'm not one for calling something what it's not. I'm a very, "what you see is what you get" type of girl. And when I see (or hear) "McDonald's" I am NOT thinking...I'm gonna lose weight with this ultra-healthy health food.

I live in reality people!

Perhaps you'll have better luck than me at processing this. I still can't fathom how much McDonald's must have paid the powers-that-be at Weight Watchers to get them to agree to this. (Either that or Weight Watchers was in a LOT of trouble that none of us knew about. Because really. McDonald's?)

I think I better go to bed before I read something else. I don't think I could handle hearing something outlandish...like that Bill Clinton has sworn off cigars...or that George W. Bush has become a grade-school language arts teacher.

Yup. I just need to go to bed!

My Tax Money Put to Good Use

I love it when I can see, first-hand, my tax money being put to good use. I mean nothing says "good use of money" like sending out a useless letter to inform someone that they'll be getting something in a week.

Seriously? You're sending me a letter to tell me that in one week I'll be getting something? Really? Imagine if companies operated that way. On the 1st of every month, they'd send out a letter to inform my husband that he'll get paid on the 15th. No company would do that! They'd see that as a complete & total waste of money.

I've got it! The US government was trying to single-handedly revive the United States Postal Service. Forget mailing something ONCE to every household in America! We'll mail TWO things!

I remember the same thing happening a couple of years ago when the government was sending us money that our great great grandchildren will be repaying. They sent a letter to inform us that our check would be coming in a month.

Again. Really? Is someone bored? Wanted to stuff envelopes? Just had too much taxpayer money laying around?

And one more time: Seriously?

The Children's Manifesto

Forget The Communist Manifesto. I've discovered something far more dangerous; The Children's Manifesto.

We, the kids, resolve the following:

1. We will not clean up after ourselves after a meal. We will be consistent at every meal so that they know we're serious.
   
2. We will not clean our bathroom mirrors, counters, toliet, bathtub, or floor. We are not paying for this house. We don't buy the cleaners. Why should we clean up the mess; even if its ours? We're kids. We should be having fun not worrying about messes.
   
3. Should we spill something, we will first attempt to blame our 4th sibling "Not Me". If this fails, we will then attempt to blame the cat. Whether or not our attempts at blaming others are successful, we will NOT clean up said mess. If we do clean up said mess, then it could be construed that we are accepting blame for said mess which would send a mixed message.
4. To summarize, our general stance on cleaning is that we do not do any cleaning. Under any circumstances. Experience has shown that if we do it once, they will then know that we have the skill and will expect us to do it again. We do NOT want to set that type of precedent! That could be VERY dangerous!
5. We will not, under any circumstances do our math. We readily accept that we will need to add and subtract as adults. We already know this skill. We might even have to multiply or divide. We'll use a calculator anyway so does it really matter if we actually know how to do this ourselves? Geometry? We know our shapes. Anything else is unnecessary unless we plan to be math teachers...and why on EARTH would we want to teach math and subject other children to something so useless as THAT?
   
6. If we are mad at a sibling, we can hit them if they're sitting right next to us in the car because we can call it an accident since we're sitting so close. You and the parent(s) in the car will both know that it wasn't an accident. It doesn't matter. You're sitting so close together that they won't be able to prove your guilt.
   
7. We are always to behave like perfect, polite children when we are in public. NO EXCEPTIONS! This is the ONLY way that we will be able to convince people that our parents are crazy when they tell their friends that we have disobeyed!
8. This is the manifesto held in many houses throughout our great nation. It is IMPERATIVE that parents not be made aware of its existence. If they should become aware, households nationwide could be thrown upside down as parents figure out what we've been up to and work to destroy our plan.

Disclaimer (because I got caught when my daughter read the blog): This manifesto has absolutely nothing to do with my kids nor their behavior. This manifesto comes from having watched OTHER people's children. My children are perfect and would never act in such a manner nor would they plot in such a manner against their parents. Ever. I don't know why people would think that such a thing was written in jest after having observed my own children. I never write bad things about my children. No good mother would. (A blogger might, but being a good mother ALWAYS trumps being a good blogger who blogs about her imperfect children and their imperfections. Ahem. Right?)

SOS Mom Saver: Freebies!

Hear the SOS Radio Segment Here:


When we first moved to Vegas, I was quickly informed that I would NOT be getting free things here like I had in other places we'd lived. I was told that what few coupons came weren't any good. I was told the stores here don't offer sales like I've experienced elsewhere.

What these people didn't realize is that I've heard these things in every place we've lived. Literally...Every. Single. Place. And in each and every place...I proved them wrong. Perhaps it's because I just like a good challenge. Regardless, I set my sights on proving them wrong....again. Vegas was going to be no different. I mean really, two of the BEST stores to shop at for freebies and moneymakers are national chains...which are here in Vegas as well.

I mean no disrespect when I say this, but even many long-time couponers don't know where to look to find the "super" deals. That's where I come in! I DO know where to look! I have been a super-couponer for 14 years. I was couponing before it was hip! I was couponing before there were hundreds of deal blogs and at least a dozen forums. And I'll go there...I was couponing BEFORE the internet. Yes, folks. I'm THAT old. (Even though I'll deny being a day over 29 if you ask.)

So...where is this leading? More freebies, of course! And here in the land of no grocery or drug-store freebies, no less!

Without further ado: On with the deals!

While I'm not a coffee person, my husband is. (And I won't mention who, but SOMEONE got our son started on coffee as well. Our 7 year old son.) You can't imagine how excited he was to hear the words, "Free coffee". My husband was excited too.

Every Monday in March, Dunkin' Donuts is giving away a free medium hot or iced coffee. For the next 3 Mondays, you can grab a free cup of coffee on your way in to work. Be sure to find the location nearest you!

Now that we've all had our morning coffee, let's talk chocolate. (Surely she's not about to tell us we'll get CHOCOLATE for free! WHO would give FREE chocolate?) Walgreen's, that's who. This week, you can get a Hershey's Extra Dark bar...for free!

(If you see any abbreviations or terms that you aren't sure about, check out my "Couponing Definitions".)

Walgreen's: Hershey's Dark Chocolate Bar (4-4.5oz) (You must buy 2.)

• 2/$3 - ($1/2) March IVC bklt - 2($1/1) SS 1/10 = free!

There are also some great freebies at CVS this week. Unfortunately, none of them involve chocolate, but I guess we'll forgive them this once.

CVS: Nivea Lip Care (0.17-0.35oz) (lt. 1)

• $2.99 (must buy 2) - (b1g1) 3/7 RP - $2.99ECB = 2 FREE!

CVS: Oral B Cross Action Toothbrush (lt. 2)

• $4 -($.75) 2/7 PG or 2/21 PG - $4ECB = Free + $.75
• $4 -($1) 2/7 PG or 2/21 PG - $4ECB = Free + $1
  

To find other great deals this week, head over to Savings Angel. They are an incredible resource for those just starting out in couponing. They're also wonderful for those who want to coupon (and may have in the past), but just don't have the time to put the deals together themselves. Savings Angel does it for you! There is a monthly fee for Savings Angel, but it is well worth the money if you can't or won't otherwise find the deals on your own.

The Tooth Fairy Made of Money

I just read on a friend's Facebook page that her dentist recommended she...ahem...the Tooth Fairy pay $5 PER TOOTH that her child loses?!?!

Shortly thereafter, someone mentioned that they pay $10 PER TOOTH!?!? Others agreed. $5 or $10 per tooth sounds reasonable to them.

Their Tooth Fairy is clearly NOT the same as mine! I don't think she's even in the same gene pool as my Tooth Fairy.

Seriously? I remember when we'd get a quarter a tooth! (That was back in the good 'ole days for you young uns.)

Now, we pay $5 for the first tooth & $1 for each tooth thereafter. And my children know that we're the Tooth Fairy. Because we're no fun cool parents that way.

Plus none of us wants to see my husband in wings. That just wouldn't be pretty.

And it would probably frighten little children.

How much does YOUR Tooth Fairy pay?

Lead Me

I've mentioned before my heart for music. Once upon a time, I wrote music. My file cabinet now enjoys every song I've written immensely. Because they were that good.

Friday night, I heard one of the songs off of the almost-released (as in will be released in 2 days on the 9th) Sanctus Real album "Pieces of a Real Heart". (If they're still available you can order an autographed copy of the album directly from the Sanctus Real website.)

Anyway...

At the concert Friday night (which was GREAT, by the way), they played several songs off their new album. I really liked one song in particular, "Lead Me". I was close to tears.

Matt (the lead singer) gave some of the background of the song. The first verse, is about a wife's cry to her husband to lead her. The second, about a child's cry to his/her father for the same. The last, a husband & father's cry for God to guide him as he leads his family.

I've shared that there have been some challenges in our marriage & family over the years. This song could have come from my heart...and that of my children. There was a time when I didn't know if my husband even desired to lead us. Not only does he clearly now desire to lead, but he actually does so...by the grace of God.

I couldn't find an "official" video on the Sanctus Real Podcast. As far as I know, the song hasn't even gone for adds yet at radio stations. However, I did find a video of Sanctus Real doing an acoustic set at Spirit 105.3 in Seattle, WA. The song doesn't actually start until 3:40 in the video. It's worth a listen if you have the time!

My Poor Old Man...I Mean Husband

Friday night, we were blessed to be able to go to the Sanctus Real/Addison Road concert. It was trip! Not an acid-type trip, but an "Oh my gosh my husband is becoming an old man" type of trip. And trust me, THAT is a trip in its own right!

First we had to get past the fact that the music was too loud for my old man dear husband. Seriously? You should HEAR how loudly my husband plays his production...or the TV. Yet he finds the concert too loud? Wimp! Just in case, I think next time we'll bring the ear protection he uses when he goes shooting. Then he won't have to hear a thing!

After we got past the hearing issue, there was the dancing.

No. Not my husband's.

Mine.

And THAT was the problem.

Apparently he thought I was kidding or going through a phase when I danced at concerts while we were dating and first married. He thought it was a fluke that I was rocking out to Veggie Tales live with the kids. He thought perhaps I was just having a momentary lapse of sanity when I turned the music up & danced through the house.

Every weekend.

Or maybe he just hoped, prayed, and dreamed that one day I would no longer desire to dance to music. At the least, he held hope that I had not passed that gene down to our children. He found out at this concert that we are a hopeless bunch. We all like to dance. We may or may not be in rhythm. That's really irrelevant to us. We just like to have fun!

Unfortunately for him.

We know he loves us, he just doesn't know what to do with us sometimes. Like when we're embarrassing him at a concert and he can't hide in the crowd because no one could hide in the crowd when we're beside them dancing and singing.

If you ever want to know where we are seated at a concert, just look around. When you see the man with heavy, sound-proof headphones on looking around trying to pretend that he doesn't know the woman and children dancing crazily beside him; you'll know you've found us.

Come up & say hi to us. (Be sure to say hi to our fuddy-duddy too.)

Kirstie took a ton of pics on her phone. This is the only one I'm authorized to share:

Kirstie with Jenny from Addison Road

SOS Mom Saver: Freezing Eggs?

Did you know you can freeze eggs? We've been doing it for years! I don't even know when or where I first heard about it, but it's an invaluable tip when eggs go on sale for super cheap!

You'll need the following:

• A dozen eggs
  
• A mixing bowl
• A fork or wire wisk
• 2 ice-cube trays
• An ice-cream scoop is optional, but I always use one to prevent messes.
• 2 gallon-size storage or 1 gallon-size freezer baggie
  

You can freeze quantities greater than 12, but the easiest way to freeze them is to do it a dozen at a time.

You put them in a bowl & mix them together as if making scrambled eggs.

That would be all 12 of them. One dozen to be exact. Sorry. I'll stop now.

You can see a very small part of my helper there. Kirstie LOVES to cook! She wants to own her own restaurant some day.

Once they're well mixed, divide them evenly among 24 ice-cube sections. To make it easier on myself, I just fill 12 in each of 2 ice-cube trays. I usually use my ice-cream scoop to "dip" even quantities into the ice-cube trays & then fill in at the end with a spoon. However, my ice cream scoop has yet to be unpacked. So I'm doing it the messy way today...dumping the eggs into the ice cube tray. I'll spare you THOSE pics!

Once all 24 sections are filled, place the eggs into the freezer to be frozen just as you would when making ice from water.

When both trays are in the freezer, just wait until they are completely frozen solid before moving on to the next step. I typically wait overnight to ensure they are fully frozen. (Imagine Jeopardy music playing here. I find that quite appropriate. Except that I don't think I'd want to listen to that all night. Nevermind.)

The "egg cubes" are frozen!

Once the "egg cubes" are frozen, pop them out just as you would regular ice cubes & put them in a freezer baggie.

Be sure to label the baggie including the date. Tip: It's MUCH easier to label a baggie if you do so before filling it.

Eggs can be frozen like this for up to 6-12 months. If you'd like to err on the side of caution, use them within 6 months.

When you're ready to use an egg, you will need to do a little prepping. The night before, transfer the number of eggs you'll need into a bowl in the fridge. (2 cubes is equal to 1 egg.) If you're planning on making scrambled eggs, it's typical to assume 2 eggs for each adult, 1 for each child, plus an extra for good measure. In the morning, they'll be defrosted, ready for a final whip before cooking & you're good to go!

You'll do the same if you're cooking with an egg(s). You just pour the defrosted egg(s) into your mixture instead of a fresh egg.

If you happen to forget to defrost eggs the night before, they can still be used. For cooking, defrost them in a bowl of hot water. If you're cooking scrambled eggs you can either defrost them in a bowl of hot water or just put the cubes into the pan. They will defrost as the pan heats up. They'll cook "normally" once defrosted without any problems.

Have you ever frozen eggs before? What other unusual items do you freeze?

We're all hairless!

At least it feels that way! This past week, my daughters and I decided to donate our hair to Locks of Love. It is something we had talked about doing on many occasions, but had yet to actually do. Wednesday, we decided to take the plunge. Some of us were left with MUCH shorter hair than others.

I typically cut the kid’s hair & trim my own. I was comfortable cutting my oldest daughter’s hair this short because she would still be left with quite a bit. However, I wasn’t about to touch mine or my 8yr olds.

We would have both ended up bald.

Instead, we decided to go to Great Clips. If you’re donating to Locks of Love, Great Clips will cut your hair for free. The ladies there were great sports letting me snap pics just for you guys! Others in the place were having fun with it too.

Here's Kirstie (our oldest) after her cut. She had the most hair left. I didn't get a before of her.

Here's Whitney before:

And after:

Here's a pic of my hair ready for donation. What can I say? When Mom's the one who takes the pic, you don't get great ones of her!

I would highly encourage anyone interested in donating to make the jump to do so! We miss our long hair, but don't regret giving a unique gift to those in need.