Em-fer-son

Close enough, I say... Here is a short Video of Emerson's new trick.  Also included are a few shots she took herself after stealing the camera. 

A Deal

I know, I know... its been a while since I posted anything on the blog... I offer the following video in hopes of making it up to you.

Squeaky Shoes!

My mom called me last week, and the minute I answered the phone she said "Hi, (no pause) can I come over and play with your daughter? (again, no pause) I got her shoes."

She did not get just any shoes, she got her squeaky shoes.  They are also made of 100% recycled material, but that point get lost when Emerson steps, and they squeak.  They are funny and cute, and Emerson delighted when she realized that SHE was making that sound.  Wrigley realized almost immediately what was going on, but poor Gracie was following her around forever.  In the end, I think all three of us were happy that the squeaker can be removed... but they make for some fun.

Here are the best videos I could get of her as she was testing these puppies out!

Oolala!

Bonjour!

Behold, we have returned from the land of Brie, Bordeaux, and French Fries! Okay, two out of three isn’t bad…

As we return to “normalcy” (whatever that is) we take a moment to reflect on the city that has more Parisians than any other city on Earth: Paris. And let’s bring in our old, but recently neglected friend, to help us out: Messieur Bullet Point List.

· I/we have been to countless foreign cities in all of our travels, but this one is definitely unique. Beauty, excellence, high prices, and endless vendors trying to sell us glittering plastic Eiffel Tower replicas for a euro.

· We finally got sick of saying “oh look, another beautiful [fill in the blank] “after a couple of days and just stopped altogether.

· Never underestimate the importance of the following words in France: “Merci, Pardon, and Vin”. They will get you far.

· Napoleon thought way too highly of himself, as evidenced by his palaces, frequent appearance in art, letter “N” on many famous landmarks, etc. He probably had a complex, or something.

· Eating and drinking out will put you into bankruptcy within a few days. But the real issue is whether it’s too much to ask for a devaluation of the euro right before our trip so we can save some money? Hmm? Where were you when we needed you, ECB?

· Versailles: it’s huge, it’s ornate, and it’s clear that Louis IV was overcompensating for something.

· Crepes: good in any language.

· The city is definitely walkable, as many people have commented, but that definitely does not mean it’s small. Our feet hurt!

· Pigeons: they’re here too. Check.

· Parisians: they get a bad rap. With perhaps one or two minor exceptions, we found people to be polite, and patient with our lack of Frenchness. Oui.

· Parisians: they don’t all sound like Pepe Le Pue as I had imagined before visiting. Oolala.

· It was February, and we were able to sit outside at a café. Just like Chicago…*cough*

In all seriousness, it was a unique and wonderful city, and perhaps, in its own unique way, the most remarkable we have been to. And therein lies the challenge: to sample the rest of the world’s great cities.

You know, just to be sure.

Saving Money: The Grocery Game

A few years back, when our small group was reading “that dang book”, I was struck by the fact that I could not tell you how much Jeff and were spending monthly on groceries. I was the primary shopper, and I was embarrassed to say not only was I not managing it, but I did not have a clue.  I started paying attention, and working on better grocery habits.  This dramatically changed two things: 

1. We were spending half of what we were spending before on groceries  and
2. We had more food and groceries in our house.

It might seem counter intuitive, but with the simple steps I list below, we were able to dramatically save money, and ended up with more.  Win Win.  Here is what I do:

1.    I try to grocery shop only one time a week, often skipping weeks.
2.    I shop with a list, spending a little bit of time to plan before I shop
3.    I use the Grocery Game site to help me make purchases at the lowest price, and I stock up when things are on sale. 

The first two are pretty self explanatory, but the the site I use often requires a little bit of explanation.

The Grocery Game is a service I pay for (I pay $15/12 weeks) that provides weekly lists for the stores in my area (its zip code based) telling me what is on sale, and where to find the coupons needed to get the best price. 

The Main Screen I See Each Week

       Grocery stores gennerally follow a 12 week cycle. The GG site tracks all this, and identifies when an item is at its lowest price incorporating coupons and store sales.  It does all the math for you and creates a weekly list.  I just sign in on Sundays, click the items that we would want to purchase, click over to the “gather coupons” tab, print the coupons to clip from my weekly paper, then go to print my list.  This generally takes me about 20 minuts total. The site does all the work for me.  I subscribe to two store's lists: Jewel & Super Target, but it also tracks the Drug Stores, Meijer and stores like Whole Foods so the options are varied depending on your area.  It only adds $5/12 weeks to add a store.

The Coupon Screen - Shows exactly what you need

     

    Lets talk about coupons too.  95% of grocery coupons come in one of two places, either the Sunday paper or the internet.  So, to have the GG be effective one would need to get the weekly paper.  For us, the Sunday only delivery of the Chicago Tribune ends up to about $1/week.  Each week I pull the coupon inserts (the GG will tell you what to look for) and file them away in my folder (see the pic).  Then when I pick up my list for the week, and it tells me to pull a coupon from the paper 10 weeks ago, it is right there.  The other coupons are directly linked in the list and also quite easy to procure. I've noticed there are also a bunch more internet coupons for the health food stores and organic items found on product web sites.  So this is a great tool to navigate through all that save a little money on what is generally expensive products. 

I uploaded a screen shot of a portion of my final list for this week (there is a printed version too, not shown).  You can see how each item is calculated out, with the percentage saved listed and the coupons required.  Its also organized in order of how the store is physically laid out saving confusion and increasing the chance I can send Jeff to the store for me, and he will return in a reasonable amount of time.  You can also see the box on the left totaling the price of my shopping trip and what I have saved, this useful tool keeps me within budget for the week.

My Final List This Week

So that is what I do to save money on groceries.  I am sure I forgot something, so feel free to send me questions if you are interested. And let me know if any of this helps you save money!

Note: If you do try the Grocery Game, there is a (very small) referral bonus.  That is in no way the reason I did this post. In the interest of saving money in all ways, don't let it go to waste and be sure to list someone (I don't  care who) in the referral box.

 

Tips on How I Save Money

As I noted in my Goals for 2011, I want to help other people learn how to use some of the tools I know of to save them some money.  Today's post is the first installment of a series I plan on doing highlighting some of the simple ways you can save money.  I don't care how much you have, it is always good to save. 

These are the basic things I use to save money.  I will go into greater detail in subsequent posts for each of these deals. But for now, here is an overview.

The Grocery Game: Paid (small fee) web service that provides specific shopping lists for my local grocery and drugstores on a weekly basis.  It lists out the items for sale for that week and then cross references that with a database of historical data.  It will analyze the price based upon a 12 week grocery store cycle (did you know that all sales are on a 12 week cycle?) and color code them indicating what to stock up etc.  It then tells you exactly where to find the coupons you need to combine with the sale price to achieve the best price on an item.

Amazon Mom/Subscribe and Save: I use this free service to get diapers.  Just sign up and you automatically get the Amazon Prime service (free next day shipping on most items) and 15% off diapers.  Couple that with the Subscribe and Save program, you get 15% more off diapers and you blow all other prices out of the water.  I know, I have a huge spreadsheet comparing them all.  AND they are delivered to your door on a set schedule.

Swagbucks:  This free site basically is a game where you can earn points called Swagbucks and trade them in for stuff, most notably (and what I always get) Amazon.com gift cards.  You can earn Swagbucks in a variety of ways including internet searches, they release codes, referrals, watching videos, and using their site to navigate to other vendors.  Basically Swagbucks is an internet marketing company that has figured out how to make a game out of it all, and as a result, you get rewarded.  I have currently gotten over $150 in gift cards in under a year. 

Blogs / Google Reader: If you have a google account, you have access to a Google reader.  That is site that will use an RSS feed to check thousands of sites for you, and consolidate them in one place.  I currently use mine to check the news, follow friend’s blogs, get style tips and (most important to this post) follow deal posting bloggers.  I have a number of sites that will notify me of deals available.  From restaurants coupons, to internet Groupons, and Drug Store deals, these other women bloggers are nuts! But nothing gets through the cracks with these girls! And,  when I use my Google reader, I see all of the deals all in one place, already figured out for me.  Nice deal.

Groupon: This one most people know of, but did you know you could purchase deals from other cities?  And often those deals are for internet sites that anyone, regardless of address, can purchase?  I have been able to get my hands on a number of photograph deals (photo albums), Canvas on Demand, Snap Totes and even a Giant fortune cookie for more than 50% off!  In addition to local restaurants and stores, we have also used it when we traveled, getting a nice tour of the Dallas Cowboy’s Stadium for cheap.  It’s a great resource and you can even get Swagbucks when purchasing Groupons. 

That’s it for now (is anyone still reading this far down!?!?)… more details on each on of these as the weeks go on….

Chi - Chi - Chi - Chi - le - le - le!

Greetings! Well it's been a little over a week now since reentry from Chile (note: not CHILI).

Mmm...Chili....





What a great trip. We helped rebuild / fix up three homes during our time there and view and participate in a variety of economic projects in the area. The Mapuche Natives that we worked, lived, and shared fellowship amongst proved to be warm, hard-working, generous, and enjoyable people. The Spirit of God was also evident amongst them. Likewise, we had the chance to serve alongside Mark Lennox, local Global Servant for Bright Hope & Willow Creek, and two members of his church who drove down from Santiago. The Church really is a global phenomenon, and this was a wonderful reminder of that fact.




Let's hit some of the highlights of our trip, in no particular order:

• The country is simply gorgeous. When the nuclear fallout hits the US our team agreed we are all hiding out in Chile



• The weather was perfect. 75-78, sunny, with puffy white clouds almost the entire trip. Just like Chicago in January...or something.

• Mark Lennox. Bright Hope / Willow Global Servant. He and his family live in Santiago where he pastors a church and led our team's time amongst the Mapuche. I HIGHLY recommend supporting his work down there. Here is the form to do so if you feel so led. Or call Bright Hope directly at 224-520-6100.
  
  
• The Mapuche people were warm, inviting, loving, hard-working people, who put up with all of our crazy gringo ways very patiently.




• Mate. Several of us developed an addiction to the stuff. I bought some at Eurofresh upon returning to the States.
• 
  
• Our campground. Carlos, the proud and gracious owner, runs a wonderful campground with nice cabins. The next time you're in the Vilcun area I recommend staying there.
  
  
• Our team. We were awesome. No, seriously. What a great group of people. We had a lot of fun, a lot of serious times together, and a lot of laughs. Thank you Frank, Jan, Lee, Ofelia, Russ, Emily, Kelly, Pancha, and Joey!
  
• Mery and Ricardo. Two servants who have spent the last five years building rapport and working with the Mapuche people. They light up a room.
  
• Pastor Elueterio. Who, along with his wife, Marta, hosted us daily, drove us around, and worked alongside us.
  
• The stupid chickens that kept eating the styrofoam insulation. Yes, they ate a lot of it. And somehow lived.
  
• The little churches, thriving in the communities all over the countryside. We got to see many of them, meet many of their members, and experience worshiping with them.


• Washing and cleaning wool in the river with the Mapuche. Now that's HARD WORK (and whatever you may think of sheep, they are incredibly dirty animals, albeit delicious to eat).




• Sheep heads. Enough said.

Does this sound interesting to you? It should, because it is good stuff. And you should do anything and everything to join us again next winter for Chile - 2012! Stay tuned for details this summer!

AES Goals for 2011

[Insert here the schpeal about how I am not really big on “resolutions” but thing that its important to have goals] 

[Do Not Insert here the schpeal about how goals need to be SMART goals… these are not specific, nor are they measurable, and I don’t care They are just my goals, and putting them on the blog makes me accountable. ]

Off we go!

Gospels:  My bible reading goal is to spend the year reading and studying the gospels.  One every quarter; this quarter is Matthew.  My hope to understand the heart of God more, learn what kind of human He was when He was walking on this earth, and to try to comprehend how big His love is for me.  The Gospels tell the story of Jesus, and the “whole Jesus thing” is pretty much a big expression of His love for me as well as central to my faith. So, I figured a good place to spend 2011.

Slow Down: I all too often feel frantic and jumbled in my head.  This causes a trickle down effect on all aspects of my life.  I want to work on slowing down in moments.  I don’t have to have every moment of E’s naps filed with tasks.  Sometimes it is a-okay to leave the dishes for later and settle in with a good book (maybe the Gospels? Winky wink).

Learn to give myself a good manicure:  Liking my outfit, having good hair and having my fingernails painted are three things that make me feel better about myself. No, they are not the ONLY things… but they are pretty simple things.  Nothing will ever compare to the salon, but it might save a bit of money as well as help me to slow down (see goal above) and just wait for the paint to dry. 

Encourage others with ways they can save money:  As many of you know, I like to save a buck. I am not cheap per se, but if I can get something of equal quality for less, well then I should.  Over the past few years, I have stumbled upon a number of money saving tips, tools and tricks. It brings me lots of joy to spend time helping other people figure out how to save money for their family too.  So, I want to be intentional about sharing all my money saving ideas.  You might see more of this goal end up on the blog, as it is a great way for me to log some of the things I do, and then I forward on the link later.  Stay tuned!

Continue to expand my cooking skills and creativity:  A few years back, I made a goal to purchase more ingredients (fruit, vegetables, flour, eggs etc) at the grocery store rather than prepared food (frozen pizzas, prepared frozen meals etc).  That and the fact that Jeff, Em and I are home A LOT more in this season of life, has all lead to me cooking more.  It has been a fun journey for me, and I want to continue on in the path.

So, there you go, my goals for 2011.

Chile!

It's time to head off to the land that most people confuse with a thick meaty dish served in the southwestern United States...

That's right, Chile is finally here. The Smith family is investing their time, energy, and money in helping the Mapuche indigenous people of south-central Chile. The team from Willow Creek Community Church will be helping rebuild a few homes that were damaged by the earthquake in early 2010, and helping the local churches build upon various economic initiatives that have been started there. It's Willow's first serving team going to Chile, and Jeff's first international serving trip. And even better, Jeff's sister Kelly, and Allison's mom Emily will both be joining us on this serving adventure!

And lest anyone think that Allison and Emerson aren't invested heavily in Chile, they are sacrificing their man for ten days to a land far away. Pray for not only safety, but the effectiveness of our team, and the effectiveness of the long term initiatives being put in place. There really is a chance for the church here in Chicagoland to be connected and make a meaningful impact in the lives of people far far away.

It's a small world after all.

Watch Out, Here Comes 2011...

We celebrated this really neat holiday called "New Years". Our successful formula goes something like:

Friends + Friends' parents' really large home + lots of kids + plus hang out and spend the night + breakfast and games in the morning = Great Success.

Happy 2011. Wow, where will this year lead?