Candy Buy-Back from K&L Dental (Tues, Nov 1 from 4pm-8pm)

Need to get rid of your kids candy before they (& you) make themselves sick?  Good news!  K&L Dental is hosting a "Candy Buy Back" on Tuesday, November 1st from 4pm - 8pm.  Kids 12 & under will receive $1/pound of candy brought in (up to 5lbs).  In addition to earning $1/lb, whoever brings the most candy in will win a new bike!

All candy is sent to Operation Gratitude where it is divided into care packages for troops overseas (Box Express is covering cost of shipping the candy).

117 W. Mulberry
Marion, IN

(765) 664-0028

 

Trick of Treat Hours for Marion & Surrounding Areas

Taking out your little people to trick or treat tonight?  See times for each area below:

Marion: 5-8pm
Converse: 5-8pm
Fairmount: 6-8pm
Gas City: 4-8pm
Jonesboro: 5-8pm
Matthews: 6-8pm
Sweetser: 5-8pm
Van Buren: 6-9pm

Want an alternative to going door to door?

• Trunk or Treat: 5-7pm - God's Grace Ministries UMC (4312 Adams St.)
• Halloween in the Park Trunk or Treat: 5-7pm Gas City Park
• Trunk or Treat: 5-8pm Nelson Street Wesleyan Church
• Trunk or Treat: 5-8pm First United Methodist Church
• Trunk or Treat: 5:30-8pm Brookhaven Wesleyan Church
• Hallelujah Night: 6-8pm Christ Temple Church
• Trunk or Treat: 6-8pm James Lutheran Church
• Trunk or Treat: 6-8pm Unity Christian Church
• Trunk or Treat: 5-8pm Bend of the River Neighborhood Association (YMCA rear parking lot)
• Neighborhood Halloween Celebration: 5:30-8pm Garfield Neighborhood Association (Barnes Park on 6th & E)

25 Ways to Wear a Scarf (video)

Cars 2 DVD Only $6.99 after rebate

Looking at purchasing Cars 2 for a Christmas gift? Right now you can pre-order at Amazon.com for $16.99 and you can earn a $10 rebate by mail on the movie by purchasing select Kimberly Clark Products between 10/30 and 1/31/12. Price after rebate = $6.99!

Mail Requirements:
1) Proof-of-purchase tab or UPC from your Disney*Pixar’s CARS 2 on DVD or Blu-RayTM Combo Pack. Proof-of-purchase tab is located on the back of the product packaging just above the UPC code.
2) Proof-of-purchase tab or UPC from your Kimberly-Clark products.
3) Cash register receipt from Disney*Pixar’s CARS 2 DVD or Blu-RayTM Combo Pack purchase imprinted
with store name and dated between October 30th, 2011 and January 31st, 2012 with purchase price(s) circled (photocopies acceptable).
4) Cash register receipt(s) from Kimberly-Clark purchase imprinted with store name and dated between
October 30th, 2011 and January 31st, 2012 with purchase price(s) circled. Receipts from multiple retailers and transactions allowed (photocopies acceptable).
5) This original, hand-printed, completed certifi cate (no photocopies allowed).  To get rebate form go to:
https://www.kcc.cr.kimberly-clark.com/downloads/rebate.pdf

Receive: A $10.00 rebate by mail. Please allow 6-8 weeks for check to arrive.

Mail to:
CARS 2/Kimberly-Clark Rebate
P.O. Box 8086
Royal Oak, MI 48068-8086

Free Halloween Pancake for Kids 12 & U (on Oct 28th)

IHOP will be offering kids ages 12 and under a FREE Halloween Pancake on 10/28 from 7 A.M.- 10 P.M. Not at all healthy, but fun & free, so thought I'd share.  Everything in moderation, right? :)

FREE Batteries from Staples (with Staples Rewards 100% back credit)

Okay, Christmas isn't too far around the corner, so you better head into Staples and stock up on batteries now so you're ready when the holidays get here! 

Through 10/29 at Staples, you can get a 16/pack of Duracell AA or AAA batteries for FREE.  You must have a Staples Reward card (free to sign up if you don't have one) and use it when you purchase the batteries.  You'll have to pay the cost for the batteries out of pocket, but then Staples will email you 100% of the cost back (except taxes) in Staples Rewards (if you've never gotten these, these, you just print them out and take them into the store to use like a gift card). 

Don't need batteries right now?  Donate them to your kids school, your church or a non-profit in town that can probably use them!

Apples, apples & more apples - Hainlen Orchard (Converse, IN)

Have you been to Hainlen's Orchard this fall?  It is not a "pick-your-own", but still a beautiful orchard that makes a fun outing for the whole family.  Stop by during this peak apple season time, and you'll be glad you did!

Address: 5588 County Road N 1250 East Converse, IN 46919
Phone: 765.395.3274
Hours: Monday – Saturday: 9 AM – 5 PM, Sunday: 12 PM – 5 PM
Extras: 35 varieties of Apples, jelly and jams, gourds, squash, peaches, honey, cider

5k Run For Recovery 2011 - Race for Grace (11/5)

5K Run for Recovery  

& Fun Run/walk

Saturday November 5th, 2011

Matter Park, Marion IN

Early Registration Fee: $20 Due by October 23rd. T-Shirt Included

Day-Of Race Registration: $20, Does Not Include T-Shirt

Proceeds Go to Grace House

·                                

 Check in: 7:30-8AM

Race Begins At 9:00AM – Rain or Shine!

Want a registration form?  

Email raceforgracehouse@gmail.com 

My family & I did this the past two years, and it is a great community event supporting a wonderful program.  Grace House is a home for men who are trying to get out of lives of drugs & alcohol.  Hope to see you at the event!

Want more info about Grace House?  CLICK HERE 

Spencer's Farm - Pumpkins, apples, gourds, etc.

Have you ever been to Spencer's Farm?  I posted about them last fall, but in case you forgot about them I wanted to post again to remind you!  This is a really quaint family farm with very reasonable prices.  In addition to in-season produce they've grown, they also have cage-free eggs. 

Directions: from Marion, go EAST on 38th Street for 15-20 minutes.  The farm is on your right, and has a sign out on the street. 

It is worth the beautiful drive to the country!  

Pumpkin Muffins from the PIONEER WOMAN!

Anyone in the mood for pumpkin?  :)  I found this picture on the Better Homes & Garden's website, and while they're advertising making cupcakes, I think these would be even better if you made them with pumpkin muffins with cream cheese frosting.  All you have to do to modify these is to add a little food coloring into your cream cheese frosting (see recipe below), and plop a pretzel rod in the top!  Cute & yummy!  See recipe below from the PIONEER WOMAN... don't know who she is yet?  If you love food, you MUST check her out.  You can thank me later. :) 

Pumpkin Spice Muffin Ingredients

• Muffin Ingredients:
• 1 cup All-purpose Flour (even better use half all purpose, half white whole wheat - kh's addition)
• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon Ground Ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 4 Tablespoons Butter, cut into pieces
• 1 cup (heaping) Pumpkin Puree
• 1/2 cup Evaporated Milk
• 1 whole Egg
• 1-1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
• 1/2 cup Golden Raisins (optional!)
• _____
• Topping
• 2 Tablespoons Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
• _____
• FOR FROSTING:
• 1/4 cup Softened Butter
• 4 ounces, weight Cream Cheese  (add yellow & red food coloring to make orange! - kh)
• 1/2 pound Powdered Sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Generously grease 12 muffin tins.
Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt. Cut in butter with two knives or a pastry blender until it is fully incorporated. In a separate bowl, mix together pumpkin, evaporated milk, egg, and vanilla. Pour pumpkin mixture into the flour mixture. Add raisins. Fold gently until mixture is just combined.
Pour into a greased muffin pan—batter hardly ever fills all twelve unless you keep it down to 1/2 full.

Bake for 25 minutes. Allow to cool in pan for 15 minutes, then remove and allow to cool. Ice with cream cheese frosting. (then add pretzel rod - kh)

To make the frosting, mix all ingredients on high until soft and whipped. Spread onto completely cooled muffins.   Store in the fridge, as icing will soften at room temperature.

Campbell's Pumpkin Patch - Wabash, IN

Have you been out to Campbell's Pumpkin Patch this season?  If not, you are missing out!  I took my little men yesterday with their preschool group, and I was reminded of what an adorable little place it is.  This is our third fall in Indiana, and we've been each fall.  They seem to add things to do there every fall & it just gets cuter & cuter!

Activities include:
Hay rides
Corn Maze
Hay maze (for the little guys)
milk bottle bowling
Bean bag toss
Giant inflatable jumpy pumpkin
Feed the goats
Pick-you-own pumpkin (all shapes & sizes!)
Snack shop with fresh baked fall goods & what else?  APPLE CIDER!
Country store, with all kinds of goodies & yummy local honey (which I note b/c I picked some up!)

And, they have the LARGEST, MOST BEAUTIFUL MUMS YOU HAVE EVER SEEN, for only $5.95 each or 3 for $16.  When you see how huge these mums are you'll understand why this price is a steal!

Take some cash (most activities are very low cost or by donation), grab your hats & jackets & head out there today!  For more info and directions, click HERE.

Open 9am - 6pm seven days a week from mid-Sept thru Oct 31. 

Sweetser Switch Trail Pumpkin Walk (Sat, Oct 15th)

The annual Sweetser Switch Trail Pumpkin Walk is this weekend, Saturday, Oct 15th from 6:30 -9:00pm.  Activities include hay rides, pumpkin carving contest, costume parade, jack-o-lanterns, etc.  If your kiddo is going to participate in the costume parade, have them at Sweetser school ready to go by 6:00pm. 

For more info on the Sweetser Switch Trail & directions CLICK HERE. 

Event Organizer - Sweetser Lions Club - 765-384-7470

CVS FREE Deal on Hallmark Cards this Week (thru Sat)

For those of you savvy mommas who have a CVS Rewards card, they have a great deal this week on Hallmark cards (not just Halloween cards as shown in the picture, you can do bday cards, etc.).

Buy 3 Hallmark Greeting Cards at $0.99 each
Spend $2.97 plus tax out of pocket, Get $3 ECBs
Free after ECBs

If you don't do CVS's Rewards program, it is worth signing up (& it's free).  Just stop by any CVS to pick up an application and your card.  They usually have at least one "free" deal each week (like the one listed above).  You have to pay the initial out of pocket, but you get your Extra Care Bucks you can use on something  else, making the cost essentially free to you.  Just make sure you check out the expiration date on your ECBs so you use them before they expire!  For more info on CVS's rewards program, CLICK HERE.  

Free Sephora Deluxe Lipstick at JCPenney (w/ this coupon!)

Coupon good until 11/1/11.

KOHL'S Coupon & Grand Opening

Most folks in Marion probably know, but in case you don't, KOHL's is now open.  Check your mail from the last two weeks - I had a $10 GIFT gift cert mailed to me (unsolicited on my part) from KOHL's that is only good through today, Saturday, Oct 8.  If you got the same thing in your mailbox, use the coupon below to maximize your free gift!

Lowes Build and Grow FREE Kids Clinic: Monster Machine (Saturday 10/8/11)

Another free kids clinic at Lowe's this weekend.  Take your kiddo for a special morning out!  Starts at 10am.  First 50 kids get to participate - register online HERE.

Mississinewa 1812 - THIS WEEKEND

In case you hadn't heard, Mississinewa 1812 is this weekend in Marion (Oct 7-9).  I just got back from the event, where I spent the morning with my two little men and my girlfriend Jackie & her two little people.  We had a great time!  It was a beautiful morning, and is supposed to be a beautiful weekend, so go check it out!

Admission is $8 at the door, but if you stop at MARSH on your way there (at the customer service desk) you can get tickets for only $6.  Kiddos 6-12 are $5 at the door, but only $4 at MARSH, and kids 5 & under are FREE.

Make sure you have $1 bills with you, good walking shoes, & a water bottle!  You can take water & food with you into the event, but trying some of the authentic food at the event is part of the fun.  :)  We found a dip-your-own candle booth, and my boys proudly brought home their own candles to show their dad (for only $.75 each!).  See how cute the are above.  :)

For more info & a schedule of events go to:  http://www.mississinewa1812.com/

WINNER for Book Giveaway - Totally Together: Shortcuts to an Organized Life

 Thank you to all of you who submitted your best tips for keeping your lives sane in the "Totally Together" contest!  We have a winner for the book Totally Together: Shortcuts to an Organized Life.  Congratulations to Jaena.  I read & appreciated everyone's feedback, but as my husband will tell you I'm the most indecisive person in the world, so choosing the winner came down to names drawn out of a hat.  :)   Jaena's mom tip was to use bins/tubs to stay organized and make things easy to find. 

Finding "Shortcuts to and Organized Life" must resonate with many of us, as I had 130 hits on my original blogpost on this book.... either that, or we all just like to win something for free.  :)

If you haven't already, check out the author, Stephanie O'Dea's, and if you're interested in purchasing your own copy of Totally Together for yourself or another mom you can get it on Amazon.com, or any other major book store.


Thanks again to everyone for your feedback - I appreciate your tips & suggestions on how to stay sane & balance family/home/work/life! 

 

What's for dinner tonight?

 Looking for some new fall meals to spice up your kitchen?  I'm feeling like I'm in a rut, and with little time after work before dinner, I never seem to have time to figure out meals & keep "throwing together" the same boring stuff.  I  got an email with food.com's TOP Five Crockpot Recipes and am excited to try them out... I think I'll start with their recipe below.  I recently had pulled pork made by a woman in my small group, and the method/ingredients she used were just like the recipe below.  It was AWESOME (& she said easy!), so I'm definitely giving it a try.... enjoy!

 

Pulled Pork (Crock Pot)

By duonyte on July 25, 2005

Ingredients

1. 4 lbs pork roast ( shoulder or butt)
2. 2 large onions
3. 1 cup ginger ale
4. 1 (18 ounce) bottles favorite barbecue sauce ( I like Sweet Baby Ray's)
5. barbecue sauce, for serving (optional)

Directions

1. Slice one onion and place in crock pot.
2. Put in the roast and cover with the other onion, sliced. Pour over the ginger ale. Cover and cook on LOW for about 12 hours.
3. Remove the meat, strain and save the onions, discard all liquid. With two forks, shred the meat, discarding any remaining fat, bones or skin. Most of the fat will have melted away.
4. Return the shredded meat and the onions to the crock pot, stir in the barbecue sauce. Continue to cook for another 4 to 6 hours on LOW.
5. Serve with hamburger buns or rolls and additional barbecue sauce. Any leftovers freeze very well.
6. TIP: freeze ready-made sandwiches - a scoop of meat on a bun, well-wrapped. These make a great quick meal or snack. To reheat, remove wrapping, wrap in a paper towel, and zap 1-2 minute in the microwave.
7. Note: Shoulder or butt are recommended because the meat shreds very well. Other cuts do not shred as readily. It is a fattier cut, but the fat melts away in the cooking and is poured away when you discard the liquid.
8. Note 2: I have an older, smaller crock pot. The above times work perfectly for me. But if you have a newer or bigger crock pot, you may need to revise times downward, esp. after the bbq sauce is added. I think you need at least a couple of hours for it all to meld, but that may be all you need. Update: I recently bought a bigger crockpot, I think 5 or 6 qts. I cooked a 6 lb pork shoulder in it for 8 hours and it was shreddable at that point. Shredded, added the sauce, and cooked for another hour or so to meld everything. So use your best judgment on timing!
9. Note3: You might want to turn your roast over after it's cooked a while, to ensure more even cooking. I think this may depend on the size and shape of your roast and the size of your slow cooker. Remember that each time you remove the lid you lose heat and be careful, as turning a large piece of meat is awkward.