Coupons ~ It's the end...of the year

Coupon users know - the end of the year is serious. So many coupons expire on 12-31.

Photo by Perry Merrity II on Unsplash

Throw in a Kroger "Mega Event" that started today and the fun really begins!

I spent a delightful day in Kroger and Walmart today. I used my coupons. I also used my rebate apps (links are below) to help pay for my purchases.

Fetch - Ibotta - Shopkick

I didn't get a lot but what I got we can use and the savings help me put food on our table.

Thanks for visiting ~ more deals to come!  Reia

Reflections as we near Christmas Eve

As we near Christmas Eve and I prepare my music notebook for multiple services (4 Masses, Children's Choir performance & 1 adult Choir Concert between the hours of 5pm Christmas Eve & 11am Christmas Day)...I'm reflecting on some things.

1st - A lot of prayer and preparation has gone into the upcoming services. We've rehearsed, we've tweaked and we've discussed the best way to minister to the people. I will rest in the fact that we're prepared.

2nd - We're making memories and reviving memories for others as well as for ourselves. People often tell me they always went to Midnight Mass as a child with their families, their grandparents, etc. We're ready to continue the tradition to worship Christmas Eve - at Midnight.

3rd - We're a better team because we'll have another Christmas "under our belt" by 11am Christmas Day.

Most importantly of all - I'm peaceful in the knowledge that my Heavenly Father can take my meager efforts and touch the hearts of others. I don't know what others need but God does. He loves us as no one else can. John 3:16 says it best - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son..."

Thanks for visiting & Merry Christmas! Reia

Motherhood ~ Generation Differences - Great Question!

My daughter just asked some interesting questions.  "I'm reading a book that mentions how different motherhood is now vs our mothers and grandmothers.  How do you think it is different?  Is it easier or harder?  Why?"

I could probably go on with more but these are my answers to her questions.

It really is a thought-provoking question, Ginger.  I think an in-depth answer would produce several pages - from me at least.  So here are some bullets - from my side of the fence and my humble opinion.

1) My mother was expected to dress, behave & model particular patterns.  Think "Pleasantville" the B/W part.  She went against the norm some by working with my father in their own business.

a) While we may say "ugh" about working now - it really wasn't expected or accepted in my mother's era as easily as it is now.  I had aunts that were teachers - the one career that was accepted a little easier.

2) My mother was put to sleep for my delivery and when she woke up - I was there all pretty and clean.  Daddy had to wait outside in the waiting room - no clue of what was going on.  When one of my sisters was born, she said she never wanted to see Daddy again so I'm thinking labor hasn't changed for the 3 generations we're involved with.

3) My parents made sure we were in church. Dressed nice, learning our Bible verses, singing hymns and songs like "Only a boy named David, only a little sling..."

a) I made sure you were in church also - learning Bible verses, etc.  We had audio tapes and VHS to help.

4) We had encyclopedias (old school internet) and they were fascinating to me.   Thankfully all 3 generations continue to do the same thing in that we read, went to the library and traveled through time & space with the magic of words from our reading.

5) Television for me was ABC, NBC & CBS. NBC & CBS were out of Tampa.   If you wanted ABC, you had to go outside & turn the antenna from Tampa to Orlando.  Daddy eventually added an electric gadget that would turn the antenna from inside.

a) You grew up with Cable and now children expect TV to come from a cell phone or tablet.  Not bad just incredibly different.

That's probably more than she wanted but it's what comes to mind at this moment.  I'm proud of the woman she's become & I cherish the child that she was.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Coupons and Savings ~ Proctor and Gamble $15 Prepaid card back

Who doesn't love $ back for something we need and would buy any way?  I know we do in my house.

To receive your $15 Prepaid card by mail...

Buy: 

$50 worth of Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Secret, Ivory, Safeguard, Olay Skin, Olay Body, Venus products from 11/1/16 to 12/31/16.


  Mail: 

1)  Original form (get it here)
2)  Write in UPCs in the spaces provided on the form.
3)  Original dated sales receipt(s) with store name(s) and product purchase price(s) circled.


  Bonus:  Be sure to check the following apps for additional earnings.  Seems like there's always a P&G product or two in their list of rebates.

Saving Star - Checkout51 - MobiSave - Ibotta

*  For other great savings from Proctor & Gamble visit their website.

Thanks for visiting!  Reia

Coupons and Savings ~ Starbucks eGift Offer

Loads of Good Deals coming out now.  Here's one from Starbucks...

"Enjoy a $5 Starbucks Card eGift when you purchase three (3) qualifying Starbucks® products where you buy groceries (in one single transaction). It's just that easy to do."

https://starbucks.promo.eprize.com/offer3/

Fine print & details:  "Offer valid for purchases between 8/15/16 - 1/9/17.

Receipts can be submitted up until to 1/31/17.

To get your Starbucks Card eGift, purchase any three packages of Starbucks^® packaged coffee (10 oz or larger), Starbucks^® or Tazo^® K-Cup^® packs (10 ct. or 16 ct.), Starbucks VIA^® Instant Coffee (5 ct. or larger), Tazo^® Tea Filterbags or Tazo^® Tea Latte Concentrates, Frappuccino^® Chilled Coffee Drink (4-pack), Starbucks Doubleshot^® Drinks (4-pack), Starbucks^® Hot Cocoa (8-packs), or Starbucks^® Iced Coffee (4-pack) in a single transaction where you buy groceries."

 Thanks for visiting!  Reia

Coupons and Savings ~ "25 Merry Days with Kroger"

We live in a fairly small town.  We have a Super Walmart, two Walmart Markets, a Food Lion and a Kroger.


I'm really excited about Kroger's new promotion.  It's named...

25 Merry Days with Kroger

"Deck the Halls with Deals" - new digital coupons, recipes and more each day!

"Beginning November 25th thru December 19th - save with new digital coupons every day.  Plus get delicious recipes, tips and more for a very merry holiday."


"Just text "Deals4" to 99006 for daily text reminders about all the exclusive deals."

 For more information (plus some sneak peeks for a few of the "Free" items and savings) visit their website about the 25 Merry Days with Kroger promotion.

Thanks for visiting - more good deals, coupon news & coupon hints on their way from me to YOU!  Reia

I Remember it Well...

School, Homework, Church...Girl Scouts, Band, Soccer...

Boys, Hair, Makeup...Laughter, Tears, Prayers...

Christmas, Birthdays, Vacations...

I cherished each moment (successes & frustrations).

The years go by SO fast!

You may feel like you'll never be out of the

"Homework - Wash Your Face - You Did What???", etc. phase

... but you will.

They do grow up - honest!

When they do, you can join me on FaceBook, Instagram and TikTok waiting for a glimpse of their day

or a picture of your independent "Mini You".

I'll understand when you say..."I Remember it Well..."

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

You can join my youngest "Ginger Alana" - as she writes about one book, one experience, one day at a time.

Piano Lessons ~ There's a Song for Everyone!

I've taught Piano for over 35 years now.  I've lost count of the precious people (really young to not so young) that have passed my way.  Thanks to Facebook I'm able to follow a lot of them.

My disclaimer is - I teach the way I wish I'd been taught so many may not agree with my methods or my thoughts.  I'm okay with that.  I teach to create music lovers as well as piano players.

As the years roll by I've collected some really great memories.  I've also developed some "tricks of the trade" that have worked for me.

Here are a few to pass along - the ideas can be used for other areas of learning as well.

Photo by Rachel Loughman on Unsplash

1)  If you wouldn't enjoy doing it during the week, your student sure won't.  Find something that will hold their attention for their assignment.

2)  It doesn't have to be performed perfectly.  Sometimes "good enough" is just right.

3)  There are hidden gems inside each of us.  Spend the time to help the student find it and develop it.  You'll never regret it!

4)  Skipping ahead is often the best path in learning.  I've learned to follow my students' passions.  Some like Church music, some like Jazz and some like Disney.  Go with it - they're developing their skills and you look really great in their eyes!

5)  After studying various series of learning (John Thompson, Piano Adventures, Alfred's, etc.), there's no perfect time to teach certain aspects.  So let the student learn what they're interested in.  There have been plenty of times we've skipped sections of a book because a student wanted to learn a certain song.  It's okay - learning is learning & there isn't a perfect time to figure out sharps, flats, etc.

6)  Use today's technology - I've had great success with online lessons (Skype, Oovoo, FaceTime, etc.).  Give it a whirl - it may work for you also.

7)  It's not just about teaching piano.  Sometimes you're the "Aunt", "Gramma", "Ear" they need - listen to their hearts and their words.  As a teacher we have a lot to offer.  Be there for your student.  It's worth the time!

I'm sure there's more I can say but I'll leave it here for today.  I'm a teacher - I teach.  If someone has a question, I help them figure it out.  It just comes natural.  If I can help you, please contact me.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

My Song ~ Great is Thy Faithfulness

"Great is Thy Faithfulness" - a song that resonates with me - every day.  Through all of the ups and downs of my life, God has always been faithful to me and mine.

I looked up the word "resonate" since it came to mind when I started writing.  One definition is "to have particular meaning or importance for someone:  to affect or appeal to someone in a personal or emotional way".

Yep - "resonate" is the right word.  No matter what - the words of this song always ring true to me.

Some of the words that touch me the most are:

• All I have needed Thy hands hath provided— “Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!
  
• Morning by morning new mercies I see;
  
• Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not - As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
  
• Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow...

Some of you know my whole story, some of you see my life today - no matter what - my story has this theme running through it - "Great Is Thy Faithfulness - Lord unto me (& mine)!"

Great is Thy Faithfulness by Chris Rice

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia