Pina Colada Salad

I love cookbooks. I do. I also love cooking magazines. There is just something about recipes I guess (:

I recetly purchased a new cook book, "Real Mom Kitchen". It is full of fun & easy recipes.

One day while waiting in the car rider line for my kiddos, I found the recipe for this Pina Colada salad.

I love coconut but my husband doesn't. My kids are half and half. Some do, some don't. So I have to remember that if I make a recipe with coconut...I may end up having to eat the whole thing by myself.

This salad was so yummy and the kids helped me gobble it up. Even though spring isn't quite here, this salad reminds me of summer!

Pina Colada Salad recipe:

1- 12oz. container of whipped topping  (I used fat free)
1- (3.4oz)pkg instant coconut cream or vanilla pudding mix ( I used vanilla)
3-(6oz) pina colada yogurts
2-3 bananas, sliced
1-20 oz can pineapple tidbits, drained ( I didn't drain mine and I really wish I would have, mine was really runny)
toasted coconut, (optional)

In a large bowl, mix whipped topping, dry pudding mix and yogurt.

Mix well to dissolve pudding mix.

Refrigerate mixture for at least an hour.

Mix in bananas and  pineapple just before serving.

Sprinkle top with toasted coconut

the Lorax

Like most people, we own quite a few Dr. Suess books...

*Cat in the Hat
*Oh the Places you'll go
*Green Eggs and Ham
* The Grinch
*One Fish, Two Fish
*The Foot Book
*Horton Hears a Who

However, we don't have the Lorax. When my husband saw the preview for the new movie, he announced, " I have never even heard of that one."

So excited to be hanging out at Target (:

Now although I am not as familiar with it as say, the Cat in the Hat, I have at least heard it and read it.

Targets all across the country were offering a story hour and reading the Lorax. So we decided to go and get some of the goody bags being offered.

Having 5 kids sure comes in handy sometimes. 5 kids = 5 goody bags.

We hurried to the store, as the event was from 9-11, I was hoping the crowd wouldn't be big at 9:00. I was right! After heading to the book section, we were re-directed to the childrens clothing section.

Only a few of us were there. We sat and listened as a very non-enthusiastic Target employee read Green Eggs and Ham. She passed out the goody bags first which was good because my kiddo's didn't last long. Ivan kept saying, "I have heard that story. My Mom reads me that story."

The goody bags were nice reusable grocery bags, filled with coupons, snacks and Lorax activities. We especially liked the mustache!

Dr. Suess books were on sale 2/$20 and others were 2/$10. We recieved coupons that were good for $2 off a $10 book. So I bought two new books at $8 each. Not bad for Dr. Suess books (:

The boys were so embarassed to be in the lingerie section. They kept saying, "my eyes are burning!"

All in all, it was a fun event and I plan on doing it again!

Whose behind?

Mine. Ha ha, that is my favorite line in Toy Story 2. If you don't know what I am talking about...you're missing out. That movie has some of the funniest lines.

How is it possible for one persons life to get as crazy as mine has the past few weeks?

I have been so far behind and I haven't been able to catch up! I am behind on:
*dishes
*laundry
*basically all housework
*blogging
*product reviews
*family blog
*homeschool blog
*coupons

Seriously, do I need to go on? I am choosing to blame it on two big changes...

1. My hubby's deployment
2. Taking my kids out of public school and into homeschool

Those are good reasons for being such a slacker right?!

Happy Homemaker Monday (late, obviously)

I had planned to post yesterday but got sidetracked...it was our first day of homeschool! We had a great day but I know that I need to get more organized (in my home & school work) if I am going to survive!

homeschoolers work rrrreally hard! lol

I have started a homeschool blog, to help me keep track of what we have been doing, and so if you would like to check it out, you can find it here

Ok, lets get going...

The weather today: it was grey, rainy and cool all day! The perfect weather to curl up with a quilt & a good book.

On my reading pile: The women's group at my church are starting a book club. So I am reading the first book, which is The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom.

On my tv: freeing up some space on my dvr, by watching Castle

On the menu this week: I really haven't planned anything. Just flying by the seat of my pants...not my favorite way to do things!

On my to do list: Seriously, what isn't?! My to do list is taller than I am!

What I am creating: nothing :( I hope once we are settled into a routine that I can do a bit more scrapbooking. It has been a loooong time!

In homeschooling: We are only on our 2nd day! But we started a unit study on Flight. We are also learning about famous black Americans for history. My daughter is reading about Harriet Tubman, and my son is learning about the Tuskegee Airmen, this also helps with the flight unit!

Looking around the house: books are everywhere! I love that homeschooling involves so much reading! I see a Capital Mystery book, dictionary, Benjamin Franklin A-Z, my daughter's favorite series of books, pencils, scissors...

From my camera: saying goodbye to my hubby :(

Something fun to share: While helping my 7 yr old with his homework, he said to me, "Mom, did you know that the 50's were in all black and white?" I laughed so hard I cried!

On my prayer list: friends & family, my husband & other military serving overseas and for their families at home

Devotional or scripture: With starting homeschool, my children are on my mind more than ever. So right now, "Children are an heritage of the Lord" Psalm 127:3

Ralphs love

I am not the *biggest* Ralphs fan. It has a lot of great deals to be had, but on the whole....not so much.

The one thing that has me showin' them some love is the fact that, they don't limit the amount of like coupons that can be doubled. For example, if I have two coupons for fruit snacks, that are good for .50/2. If I buy 4 boxes and use 2 coupons, they only take $1.50 off, not the whole 2 dollars.

However, Ralphs doesn't place limits (unless the coupon states it).

Thanks to some high value coupons, I got these cakes for .99 each and the appetizers free!

They have a promotion (which is actually still going on) where if you buy 10 of a huge list of items, you get an automatic $5 off your order. This also isn't limited, as long as you have the first 10, you can get as many as you want.

So, before coupons my total was $127.xx and afterwards? $37! Not too shabby!

I finally feel like a real couponer, with a nice stockpile of mustard!

Not everything fit in the picture. But I got:

2 pineapple upside down cakes .99 each

1 chicken tornado appetizers = free

2 Digiorno pizzas = .99each after coupons

6 regular French's mustards = .40 each

6 French's honey mustards = .50 each

2 Spicy French's mustards = .50 each

2 Dijion mustards = .50 each

4 Skintimate shave gels = ?? I can't remember but they were between .50-$1

4 Edge shave gels = same deal as the Skintimate

4 bags of Goldfish = .50 each (had a coupon from a cereal box! (:

a clearanced 6 pack of applesauce = .75

a pkg of clearanced kettle corn= $1 ( I was so happy to find this because I love kettle corn and my husband &  kids love butter. So I normally buy butter.

Did you get any great deals this week? I would love to see/hear about them!