USDA Healthy tips and recipes

The USDA has some healthy eating tips, cost cutting measures, and recipes. Click Here. 

Free Dental for kids Saturday September 17, 2011

The City of Fresno Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department in partnership with the Fresno State Bulldogs and TeamSmile will be providing your child the opportunity to receive free oral health care and instruction by local dentists and hygienists.

Who is TeamSmile:

TeamSmile is a nonprofit organization that was created with the mission of organizing ever-lasting partnerships between local dentists, professional/collegiate sports teams, and dental organizations.  The goal of these partnerships is to provide life-changing dental care and instruction to children in their communities who would not have otherwise been given this opportunity.  The end result is to make children aware of how important dental care is to their health both now and into their future.

When: Saturday, September 17, 2011

Where: Fresno State University Gymnasium

Time: 9am to 3pm

What should your child expect:  Your child’s overall oral health will be assessed and dental services will be provided from cleaning to cavity filling.  

Cost:  The cost of this service is free to your family.

Additional Information:  Your child may have their picture taken to be published for press releases or used for future promotional material.  

For appointment times and registration phone the Ted C. Wills Community Center at (559) 621-6720.

September is National coupon month.

Here are some fun coupon facts: 


- The first coupon ever issued was by Coca-Cola, in 1887, for a free glass of their refreshing beverage. 
- In the first six months of 2011, consumers saved more than $2 billion using coupons. (That's all of us collectively, not each...in case you're feeling like you missed out!) 
- Over 1.75 billion coupons were redeemed in the first half of 2011--a moderate 2.9% increase during the same time-frame over last year. 
- The average face value of a coupon in the first six months of 2011 was $1.57--an increase of eight cents over 2010. 
- 96% of consumers said they would still use coupons even if they won the lottery! 

Freezer cooking day.

I am still using my cookbook like crazy, fix freeze feast for freezer cooking. Today I will be trying out the fruit smoothie recipe, and the tequila lime chicken. I am also making chicken broth from the backs of the chicken left over from the chicken and dumplings last night. I read somewhere a while back to save all the tops or stuff you cut off vegetables and to put them in the freezer. When you want to make chicken broth you just throw it all into your broth instead of using fresh vegetables. Total money saver and it works very well. Whoever thought that up was brilliant! Cucumbers were on sale 4 for .99 so I bought some yesterday. I am on the hunt for a cucumber salad recipe now. Anyone have a good one? I will post whatever recipe I find later. If you haven't tried freezer cooking, you have to try it!

August was a tough month

I didn't post the entire month of August I noted. It was a little hectic. Hopefully everyone took advantage of all the back to school sales. I was able to purchase all of my sons materials for the year for a total of $12. Thanks to my friend Lisa we used all of her son's hand me downs for school uniforms. Thanks Lisa! I also had to re-admit our older child to a program for troubled teens which accounts for my absence last month. We are very grateful to the Los Angeles Dream Center for loving our son, and wanting to help him. We are also very grateful to our friends too who were able to donate towards the admission fee. We had almost $2000 worth of repairs on our truck which wiped out our emergency fund. We have been very blessed by everyone who was able to pitch in and help out. We were also able to help out a friend who lost her home for a month while major repairs were done. This would not have been possible without our food stockpile as there was no extra money to go around. We are very grateful we planned ahead for emergencies and for the good friends who have blessed us as well. God always provides somehow even when we cannot see the solution. I have been very blessed to have steady work, and Ken always seems to get a job when the money runs out. We are almost out of money right now, but once again God blessed Ken with some work today. We need a repair on my car now, but I am confident that God will continue to bless us with the solutions. As much as you can plan for emergencies, never underestimate the power of the Lord to provide the answers as well.