National Coupon Month!

September is National Coupon Month.  Boy does that make me a happy camper!  I love coupons almost as much as my mascara.  I wanted to share some of my favorite coupon sites and also some places to receive great advice on saving money.

http://www.coupons.com/  The ultimate place for printable coupons.  Install the coupon printer and in 5 minutes you are ready to save save save.
http://www.redplum.com/  Click, print, save.  Easy Greasy.
http://www.cellfire.com/  You dont even need a printer, just load these directy onto your shoppers rewards card.
http://www.shortcuts.com/  Same as above.  Load and save.

http://www.moneysavingmom.com/  This website is a great place to find store match ups and awesome information about how to save money.
http://www.lifeasmom.com/  I visit regularly and enjoy the grocery geek series very much!
http://www.southernsavers.com/  Learn how to become a true saver.

Enjoy the list, feel free to add your own money saving websites in the comments section.

Believe, Dream, Imagine ♥

Normal Day

Normal Day

let me be aware of the treasure you are.

Let me learn from you,

love you,

bless you before you depart.

Let me not pass you by

in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.

Let me hold you while I may,

for it may not always be so.

One day I shall dig my nails into the earth,

or bury my face in the pillow,

or stretch myself taut,

or raise my hands to the sky and want,

more than all the world,

your return.

-Mary Jean Iron

Serenity

Taken at the same place as the previous picture, but later in the evening.  This is my favorite picture from the trip.

Have a wonderful Sunday. 

Love One Another :-)

Peace

I took this picture at Alum Creek Lake State Park in Delaware, Ohio. 
It was early evening and the shadows on the pond were beautiful

I Love...

Thunderstorms in the afternoon
Sleeping in
Weekends spent with those that I love
The thought of being a mother
The smell of fresh cut grass


Today...I am thankful. 
Love One Another :-)

Grand Times at the Ohio State Fair

Yes I know, the State Fair has been over for a few days...okay, it has been like a week...but I have been busy sitting on my couch in my pajamas eating a 3 lb bag of candy this week.  Now that I am finished with the bag and my jeans are a little snugger, I am ready to write about all the joy that the fair brought to me.

Lets start here with the reason that we all load our families into the car and walk around in the smothering Summer heat.   FOOD!  Funnel cakes, barbecue, batter dipped things on sticks, fried everything!  Really, is there anything better in the world than fair food?

       

Upon walking by this area, I immediately began drooling in delight.

Oh thank you little piggy for supplying us with your wonderful pork products.


Mmmmm German Roasted Almonds and Jumbo Turkey Legs.  Can I mix those together?


This kid made me laugh, he was so excited by the Lego City!

Being the Great Chicken Lover of Southern Ohio, I had a blast going through the enormous chicken house. 


Im so jealous of this pretty hens hair.  It is so beautiful and puffy without hair spray.


Another fine hair specimen.


Hello Georgeous!

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources had an awesome area that you could walk around and meet the native animals of Ohio.  On display was a very antsy coyote which was housed right next to the bobcat.  They had all kinds of birds and bats and even bald eagles!
I really enjoyed the butterfly house.  I need to find out who their gardener is.


An attempt at "real" photography.  I tried to catch this little guy in flight, but my aperture and ISO were all messed up, since I have no idea how to adjust aperture or what exposure compensation really is...this is the result I ended up with.



There is so much to explore at the Ohio State Fair. I could go on and on but I would risk boring what few readers I actually have and that would be terrible!  If you are looking for a great time to be had by the whole family, pack them up and take them to the fair.  Make some memories today.

The T-Shirt Says It All

Since it is Sunday morning, and I'm tired, and it's been a long weekend full of no fun at all, I decided I would share with you some T-Shirt designs that make me laugh until I want to pee my pants.  Most of these can be found at http://www.thelighterside.com/ .

Enjoy!!!

Its great to be a girl.

Coupon addiction, is there a rehab for that?

I would be skinny for sure.

Chocolate is what makes me tick.

I think I am somewhere in the middle.

My husband would agree.

Amen.

This Weekend in Ohio (July 30-August 2)

I extended the weekend in to Monday this week, because there are some nice fairs that start on Monday, and also because I am off that day!  Enjoy this weeks list.

Ohio State Parks

Friday July 30
Christmas in July @ Jackson Lake
Friday Family Fun Night @ Cleveland Lakefront
Luau Beach Party @ Headlands Beach


Saturday July 31
Christmas in July @ Jackson Lake
Campers Yard Sale @ Paint Creek
Girls Tri Too @ East Fork
Rudy & The Professionals @ Mosquito Lake
Wildcat Hollow Disc Golf Tournament @ Pike Lake

Sunday August 1
Triathlon & Duathlon @ East Fork

Please visit Ohio State Parks Website for more Information.


Fairs and Festivals

• Summit County (Tallmadge): July 24-Aug. 1
• Union County (Marysville): July 25-Aug. 1
• Senece County (Tiffin): July 25-Aug. 1
• Lucas County (Maumee): July 27-Aug. 1
• Pike County (Piketon): July 30-Aug. 7
• Preble County (Eaton): July 31-Aug. 7
• Auglaize County (Wapakoneta): Aug. 1-7
• Greene County (Xenia): Aug. 1-7
• Medina County (Medina): Aug. 2-8
• Gallia County (Gallipolis): Aug. 2-7
• Columbiana County (Lisbon): Aug. 2-8

Also the greatest fair around THE OHIO STATE FAIR is going to be going on all through the weekend and next week. 

I will be heading to the State Fair this weekend and I am sure to have lots of fun pictures to ahre when I get back.  Have a great weekend!

If you have any fun or exciting events that you would like me to share, please leave a comment!

A (hot) Day at the Adams County Fair

Why Hello There!

I had the super enjoyable experience of visiting the Adams County Fair this past Thursday.  Boy did we have a good time.  This is a true country fair with plenty of fun to be had by all ages.  The weather outside was humid and about 320 degrees.  OK it was actually only 95, but it felt like 320 just the same. 

Charlotte the pig agreed with me about the temperature.  Do pigs sweat?  I sweated enough for the both of us anyways.

This pig, lets call her pinky, was so hot that she had to put the cool bars of her pen in her mouth for relief.  My nephew was really enjoying watching pinky in action. 

These two are in love.  They are best friends and destined to spend the rest of their lives together.  I feel that way sometimes about my Cherry Garcia Ice Cream.

I know that I already posted this picture up above, but I shared a special bond with this little piggy.  I think we both wear the same size jeans!  Isn't she adorable all sprawled out and comfy with her water bottle within reach?  All she has to do is turn her head (no energy expended) and she will be rewarded with a cool clean drink of fresh water.

The fair is fun!  I rode the merry go round.  Me and my family ate our weight in fried foods.  I have lard coming out of my pores. 

This cow is the most perfect cow I have ever seen.  If I were to be reincarnated as a farm animal, I want to be her.  Her hair was fluffy, I saw them applying something from a spray can that looked suspiciously like Aqua Net.  Notice the distribution of brown to white on this girl.  She is perfect! 

If you didn't get a chance to experience all that the Adams County Fair has to offer this year, I would highly recommend putting it on your list of fun summer things to do next year.  You will definitely not be disappointed. 

This Weekend in Ohio (July 23-25)

Ohio State Parks

• Christmas in July @ Findley, Maumee Bay, Rocky Fork, East Fork, West Branch, Deer Creek
• Lake Festival @ Grand Lake St. Mary’s
• Butterfly Release @ Kizer Lake
• Friday Family Fun Night @ Cleveland Lakefront
• July Night Haunt @ Malabar Farm
• Summer Fest @ Portage Lakes
• Youth Fishing Derby (Saturday only)@ Jackson Lake
• Canning Workshop (Sunday only)@Caesar Creek

Please visit the Ohio State Parks Website for all the information on these events.
Ohio State Parks

 

Celina, Lake Festival
Main Street & Lake Shore Dr. Celina, OH
More info

Jazz and Rib Festival

Downtown Columbus Riverfront
Columbus, OH
More info

Brad Paisley

Blosson Music Center
Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Island Fest

Division Street  Kelley’s Island, OH

Fairs

• Franklin County Fair July 17-24
• Crawford County Fair July 18- 24
• Fayette County Fair July 19-24
• Jackson County Fail July 19-24
• Ottowa County Fair July 19-25
• Warren County Fair July 19-24
• Carroll County Fair July 20-25
• Clark County Fair July 23-30
• Knox County Fair July 24-31
• Summit County Fair July 24-August 1

 This weekend looks like a great weekend to get out and enjoy all that Ohio has to offer.  Fair season is in full swing and theres plenty going on Ohio State Parks.  Get off your butt and enjoy the weekend at one of these fabulous events!!

 

*If there is an something going on in your neck of the woods that you would like me to mention , or a festival that I simply must attend, please feel free to leave a comment.