EBATES- again :)

http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=JAsqbZoiTbkpctBWCBaL2A%3D%3D

So I have posted about ebates before, BUT before you do any more holiday shopping, use my link and sign up for ebates.  I have gotten back about $80 over this last year just for buying things I would have bought anyways.  How it works is before you buy anything online check ebates to see how much cash back you can earn.  They also post coupon codes to save you more money.  Then 4 times a year they send you a cash back rebate check.  If you sign up and make a purchase of $25 then you and I both get $5!  It's awesome.  Ask me if you have any questions, I seriously LOVE ebates!

Lame that this is my first post since September, BUT ebates rocks!!! ;)

Fun Innovative New Products to check out!

So my brother is an entrepreneur and always has something new up his sleeve.  He is able to use his Chinese to do business with China and has some fun products out that I just love!  Check out the cord control apple cores here 

and check out the rubber/waterproof watches here

Love them!!!  ;) 

from drab to fab!!!

Nick found this little guy at DI for $12!  Working drawers, dove-tailed construction, solid wood, desperately in need of a new paint job!

In one day, we painted the boys' room orange and the dresser baby blue!  We worked all day!

 Here is the finished product!!!  The boys love it!

 Yes, its quite the statement, we know :)  don't you feel energized looking at that wall! 

We sure love projects at our house :)

Coupon Code

I just got an email in my box with a coupon code for Jen Clothing. Its an online company that sells modest dresses AND they are super cute. They are a bit pricey but you can save 20% with the coupon code SUMMERSALE. Click here to visit the Jen Clothing website and remember to use your coupon code. I will post a picture of one of the dresses I got!

Christmas in July

Hey guys, its July and I have to be true to myself and get the ball rolling, or at least start thinking about getting the ball rolling.  But unlike my usual self, I can't remember who we have this year... HELP!   :)

Is everyone still game for the usual way we do it or do we want to switch it up?  We are up for whatever makes everyone else happy :).

Please just tell me who we have, you know how I love to get it done early!  Ha,

Love you all.   We had so much fun with Gwen and with Kristi and Ben and Ivy when they came to pick up Gwen.  Kris and I even did manicures and she got glitter toes that are very cute ( make sure to notice how cute they are).  It seriously was such a fun time with Gwen, we will do that again FOR SURE!  (Kristi when does her school start?)  We miss you all and are looking forward to seeing you at Fountain Green,


Love,

Stef

Ebates link

So I have a love, that is shopping and I love when I can get more for my moolah!!

One of my favorite shopping tools is ebates.  Its a website that gives you cash back for all of your online shopping (ok almost all).  Before I buy anything online, I check ebates to see if they offer cash back, then you open a tracking ticket on ebates and you get money back.  I have gotten about $80 or so back in just the last 6 months.  So if you ever shop online, you want to go through ebates first.  Click on the link below to sign up!

Happy shopping!

http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=JAsqbZoiTbkpctBWCBaL2A%3D%3D

Volunteer Work Part I

I recently came across a quote from President Hinckley that read something like this


"It is not enough to be good, you need to be an influence for good in the world."


I have found that as a mother of young children who have many demands that need to be met, I find myself feeling like I am not doing much good for anyone (including my kids). In efforts to better myself, reach out and give myself reason to have more of a schedule, I poked around for some volunteer opportunities. One of them fell into my lap and the other, I sought out, but they have caused me to think more about the effect of each of us on the community around us. Even through small and simple things (sounds familiar right?), great things can happen. Our ward has had a push recently to combat pornography. We know that it is a problem in society, but I think its a problem that is severely overlooked. Perhaps this is because we are not sure what area the problem falls under. Should it be a strictly religious focus, community health, mental health, or something else? Who is the organization that is supposed to focus on this problem? Many people may feel flustered about anti-pornography movements; we are beating a dead horse, joke about how many talks in General Conference mention pornography, etc. Me, not so much. I have found a passion in education about the dangers of pornography. Our ward had a guest speaker come to Relief Society. She works for an addiction recovery center down south and is also affiliated with the following organization:http://www.womenfordecency.org/
The Mission of Women For Decency is:Working to reclaim home and community from the assault of obscenity, indecency and pornography.
At any rate, after the guest speaker was finished, I went up and asked her about volunteer opportunities. She directed me to Women For Decency and now, as it stands, I am a district leader for this organization. I spend a little bit of time doing research, and the larger part of my responsibility there is spent making phone calls to encourage the surrounding schools to do a White Ribbon Against Pornography (WRAP) week. Not one of the schools I have called down here in Southern Utah had even heard of WRAP. That means there is much work to be done here. Part of the WRAP program is internet safety. We live in a world where our kids have cell phones sometimes as early as elementary school. Most phones have internet capability, leaving the world at the fingertips of a child. Not to mention at the fingertips of us adults as well. Increased technology and the convenience of it calls for an increase in self-control and discipline, as well as an increased commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In my readings, I came across some guidelines from a recent presentation called "Intruder: The Media In Your Home" by Ken Foster. You can access his full presentation here. His guidelines are as follows:
Avoid using the computer or TV as a babysitter. Know what your kids are exposed to: viewing, listening.Do not have wireless devices or TVs in bedrooms.Set guidelines for children and adults.Key guideline: no media at certain times (such as meal time).Watch or listen as a family and DISCUSS it.Use some media, such as VCR and DVD, to advantage.Be socially active about voicing concerns.Teach your kids to be media critcs.Be careful of what you watch and always remember you can ...TURN IT OFF!!!!



In addition to these guidelines, there is a pledge called "Our Clean and Safe Media Pledge" that would be great to go over in family night and post it where your family can work on them together! See the pledge here.

If you have kids in school, does their school do a WRAP week? If so, share with me some of the activities they have done to help give kids the tools they need against pornography. If not, pass it on to the PTA President or the Principle. Get the school involved in education about the dangers of pornography. Visit the women for decency's You tube channel by clicking here to see segments of the Brite Music production called Protect Their Minds. It is similar to the Safety Patrol production and helps kids have the courage to say no, turn it off and tell an adult when they see something inappropriate.
If you would like to see some more resources that will help you teach your kids (of all ages) about pornography, check out the womenfordecency dot org site. The top bar has a tab titled Resources that links up to lots of different web sites.
I feel so strongly that it is important to teach our kids about the dangers of pornography. Regardless of religion, this is a problem that is facing our society. If we don't do something about it and take a stand against it, the community standard is decreased and many other problems result. Let's stand together and be an example of goodness!

Free Year Subscription to Net Nanny Giveaway

I am involved with the Women for Decency organization which is all about grassroots movement and empowerment through awareness to help raise the standard of decency in our communities.

Through Women for Decency, I have been given 8 one year subscriptions for an internet filter through Net Nanny.

All you have to do is go to www.womenfordecency.org and check out the site, then leave me a comment as to how the things you learned there and the Net Nanny will help your family!!!!  Voila!  Then I will get the code over to you and you can enjoy safer surfing!  

The Finished Product

As promised, here is a shot of our entertainment setup. Unique- I know, but extremely functional :) It works for us!!!  If want to see the before pictures, here is the link http://nickandstef.blogspot.com/2011/01/latest-re-do.html

Garden project

This is our current project!  Our wonderful neighbors hooked us up with this grow box.  We lined it with plastic, 

 filled it with dirt, 

and now we just need to plant it!!! We are definitely going to do tomatoes and maybe one other thing... suggestions and gardening tips are welcomed :) 

My Bro Brad getting home from his mission

There's Bret trying to be ready :) 

I thought this picture was so fun.  The bright colored signs really stood out in the dull colored airport.  We were all so excited for Brad to get home, you won't believe how much effort it took to get everyone to pose for this picture! 

Here are Clay, Bret and I with Brad!  (poor Nick had to stay home and work; don't worry he came up for the weekend though)

Clay took an immediate liking to Uncle Brad, which means a lot to Brad :) 

Kyle, Mom, Brad, Dad (these parents are all stars with 4 for 4 of their kids serving missions!)

This was such a fun weekend and we are happy to have Brad home- I am embarrassed it took me this long to post it!  It's been over a month! 

other recent projects :)

These are my "vintage" Winder Dairy milk bottles that Nick found for me up in the hut at the dairy.  I was so excited when he brought them to me he told me he should have saved them until Christmas.  :)  I finally found some suitable flowers to put in them and they are up on our cabinets.  

This was another of our recent projects and honestly I can't remember if I already posted this picture or not.  Let's say I didn't and pretend you are seeing it for the first time if I did :)
We got the shelf from Grandma Bassett when she passed away.  We painted it white and added beadboard to the sides and back to match our entertainment desk.  It's a perfect little media shelf for our living room.  I will post a finished picture next!! :) 

cousins

This is Bret and his cousin Carson.  I love this shot because I think it totally shows their personalities.  This was on the Sunday afternoon that their Uncle Brad spoke in church upon finishing his mission in the Colombia, Bogota North mission.  Note the matching ties :) 

Pictures of our place

When the house has been clean, I have tried to get a few photos to show what our house "could" look like if it was always spotless.  Notice that pictures of the kitchen have not been posted yet :)

Here is a link to a web album.  Feel free to send any pointers or ideas my way!  I love projects :)

https://picasaweb.google.com/morris.stef/OurHome#

Design on a Dime

Okay, any of you HGTV lovers out there will know that there is a show on HG called Design on a Dime.  The mission of this segment is to turn a boring space into a place you love on a budget of only $1,000.  Let me just ask you, how many dimes are in $1,000?

Wow, what could I do in one space with that much money?  I want to show you some real design on a dime, or actually less.  I have had this desk since I was little.  I'm sure my parents bought it with the intent of "oh she'll have a great place to study"  but let's be honest, it usually housed a collection of picture frames and other knick knacks.  I'll spare you the rest of the history.  But this desk has been moved to virtually every place Nick and I have ever lived!  I can't believe it still stands up, but here is its latest make over.

The portable storage drawers hold Clay's clothes in this "make shift"  dresser.  The basket and the attached drawer also hold clothes.  Diapers and wipes are easily accessible as well as a few of Clay's favorite books.  A family photo, a picture of Jesus, a stuffed animal, and a toy.  Simple, functional and completely free.  I just gathered up some stuff from around the house and there you have it.  The other half of Clay's room will be revealed when it is finished.  We love projects around our house and it seems like they are always going on!

I just wonder what this area would have looked like with 10,000 dimes :)

Chinese New Year

Well friends, it has been a little over a month since we all made those New Year's Resolutions. Yesterday, a good friend Clarissa told me that she only makes resolutions she can do in a month. I think I subconsciously had the same thought this year. Most of my goals/hopes I have finished or am currently working on. Isn't great to have a new month and a new opportunity to make some more resolutions? And for those of us who need a reason, tomorrow marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year. 2011 is the year of the Rabbit and is bound to be a prosperous year, and hopefully that's for all of us, not just for China. :)

In the Parade Magazine this past Sunday, I found a little blurb about the Chinese New Year. It got me pumped, then it got me overwhelmed. "If you could use a little luck in the Year of the Rabbit, here are a few customs to observe:

1. Sweep for success. Clean your house from top to bottom to expel the dust and disappointments of the past year and usher in a brighter future. Decorate with plants or flowers, symbolic of rebirth. But remember: all work must be done by midnight on Feb. 2. Swing a swiffer on New Year's Day and you'll push luck right out the door.

2. Dress for the occasion. Buy new clothes to wear on New Year's Day; they represent new beginnings. Even better, get something red-its considered a lucky color.

3. Add luck to your menu. Have dinner on Chinese New Year's Eve with your family by consuming fortune-boosting foods like nian gao (sweet sticky rice cakes), dumplings, and a whole fish, symbolic of progress, togetherness, and abundance. "

Don't you love it?! I was pumped to clean my house from top to bottom, and then I started trying....sigh....and it didn't work. But not to chance bad luck, I won't try to clean tomorrow either. :)

I spent a few minutes today searching through my mission pictures to find one that would show how crazy the Chinese New Year gets. I guess because we were working so hard, I couldn't find any really good pictures. But let me reminisce for just a moment; parades, food, signs on every door, parties, eating, fireworks, more food, music, red envelopes, more and more food. These are some of my experiences with the Chinese New Year. And everyone is so dang happy for the entire celebration which lasts a couple weeks. They give out money and burn money and all sorts of things to celebrate. 恭喜發財,紅包拿來!

This is the best picture I could find. The only thing missing is the people. This must have been before something started because no one was around. Maybe this wasn't even for the New Year. :) Enjoy anyways. Yes that's a pig and yes its on fire.

The food, you cannot forget the food. Some missionaries gained 30 pounds over the fifteen days encompassing the New Year. The members were good to us, too good.

So who's with me for celebrating the Chinese New Year? Let's all eat a lot, be prosperous and give it one more go round at the resolutions! 新年快樂!!

G-Ma B's passing

One of the most sad and intersting things that has happened lately is the passing of Grandma Bassett. Janice Remington Bassett passed away Sunday night just before 11pm. She had been very sick and in the hospital for around two months. She maintained grace, poise, and a positive attitude despite her situation. Grandma underwent surgery to replace her heart valve. She was on oxygen (15 pounds), had major fluid buildup in her lungs and heart and must have been very uncomfortable. Her situation brought a new light to "life support." Previously, when I heard the word life support I pictured someone who was a complete vegetable with a machine breathing for them and someone having to feed them, change their diaper, etc. Grandma was still there but was very sick and uncomfortable. They admitted her to hospice on Sunday and the family gathered to say their goodbyes. She was taken off everything except the oxygen and a medication that would relax her and let her sleep. After the family spent the evening hearing Grandma's last words and seeing her for the last time in this condition, the oxygen was taken off as well. Within a few minutes, she passed on peacefully. We were unable to be there for that, we may not have made it up from St. George in time, but we will be attending the funeral this week.

It has been so interesting thinking about what Grandma is doing right now. Although we don't fully know, we do know that after this life our Spirit goes to the Spirit World where we are given opportunities to do missionary work. Grandma will be reunited with her sweetheart and they will await resurrection and judgement. The thoughts of eternal life and worlds without end are much closer to grandma and grandpa now. What a blessing it is to have the Restored Gospel. We can feel peace when people pass away, knowing that its not the end and that we can see them again. I love you Grandma and can feel you with our family. Thanks for your wonderful example and your constant teachings of how important family is. Thank you.

Latest Re-do!

This cute little desk has gone almost everywhere with us. We stole it from my parents (with their permission of course). It started out a creme color like what you see here. When we moved to Dallas we (meaning Nick-since I was working, pregnant and doing an internship and full time school all at the same time) sanding it down and painted it black. Unfortunately this is the only picture I could round up and its just from the back. You get the point though.

Several years later (and about 5 moves later) we finally bought our first TV and want to turn it into our computer in the family room. So we needed a very functional piece to host the TV/computer. Of course money usually controls the options and forces us to be creative. Really creative. We actually ordered a piece months ago. It was beautiful, custom painted, and amish made. The only problem: it never came. When I finally called the company had gone out of business. Its unfortunate really because it was the perfect piece. Long story short, we got our money back and were back to square one. I forgot to mention that we sold our entertainment center shortly after moving into our new town home. The living room was so small and we felt that the entertainment center took up too much room, so our old tube TV sat on the floor in our living room from June until last night. What a glorious night last night was!!! :)

Here is the finished product, the cute little desk is now a stylish yet functional piece. We took out the top two drawers and Nick built shelves. We sanded, primed, painted, sanded some more, puttied (is that how you spell it), primed some more, sanded, painted....etc. We also added beadboard to the back and sides. The knobs are from another vintage piece we are in the process of refinishing and you will see pictures later. And yes, this time I did help, thank you very much :)! We are going to get a storage ottomon to put underneath it that we can use to sit at the desk and work or to put our feet up! Yay! Its nice to have one project done!!

Clay's First Birthday

What a fun celebration this was for our whole family. We ate pizza, played Don't Eat Pete, opened presents, and finished up with cake. Clay went to town on the confetti cake with confetti frosting (Nick's favorite box cake). Clay got a couple DVDs, a book and a photo book. We love you Clay!!! Happy First Birthday and thanks for a great first year :)!