Frugal Fundraising AND A GIVEAWAY

OK, we're over halfway through the school year. Who's sick of fundraisers? Have you bought overpriced wrapping paper and candy? Subscriptions to magazines you won't read? Raffle tickets for things you don't even want to win? Fruit that you let rot (ICK)? I don't do it anymore. I will only support fundraisers that involve buying things I would have bought anyway, and for reasonable prices. They are out there, I swear. There's a local Boy Scout Troop that sells bagged mulch. It costs a little more than what you buy at WalMart or wherever, but they deliver it for you and stack the bags wherever you like (ten by the front flower beds and twenty by the backyard swing, please!). When my oldest son was in the Troop I sold so much mulch he was the top salesman for two years in a row. THIS was a fundraiser I could get behind, and it was good exercise for the boys. I've done fundraisers with frozen cookie dough in early December, and I wish every year I could find some kid selling that again - I'd make their day! Pumpkins at Halloween, bedding plants in the Spring, greenery at Christmas. It's all stuff we're going to buy anyway and nearly everyone is willing to spend just a little more than the bargain price when part of the money is going to a good cause. Then there are fundraisers that cost NOTHING. These are my favorites. There's a company that lets non-profit groups buy gift cards from major retailers and gives a percentage back. They're called Great Lakes Scrip and I highly recommend them. There are also Kroger cards, reloadable to support your school or organization, and many credit cards will let you specify a school to whom they will donate a percentage of your purchases (check out their websites for details). One of my favorites is Boxtops for Education. Remember when you had to remember to tear off boxtops, and soup labels, and all that and send it to school so your kids would get credit for this kind of fundraiser? Yeah, bad mom, I never could remember to do that. But now it's easy! Sign up for this program and when you shop at Kroger and use your Kroger card your child's school automatically gets the credit! And then they email you and tell you about the points you've earned so you feel all worthy and stuff - I love that part. Right now when you sign up you even get bonus boxtop credits to get you started, and it only takes a couple of minutes, so go ahead! Now here's the giveaway: A $25 Kroger gift card - WOO HOO! Save it for a week you know you're going to go over your grocery budget or spend it all on Milano cookies, OPI nail polish, and trashy magazines (not that I'd do that or anything). Anyway, here's how to get it. Comment on this post - tell me about your favorite fundraiser ever, or how a particular fundraiser (i.e. Boxtops for Education) has helped your school or organization. That's one chance. Sign up for the Boxtops for Education program through the link above and leave me another comment to let me know you've done it. That's two. Follow this blog and leave another comment to let me know you're following. That's three. Enter through February 21st and I'll announce the winner Monday, February 22. Happy shopping!

Disclaimer: General Mills provided me with a $25 Kroger gift card, information, and the $25 giveaway gift card through MyBlogSpark. All opinions expressed are my own - so there!

Stuffed French Toast ~ Lunchbag Week 27

No, this is really not something you can stick in your lunch bag, but it looks like I've got several friends and family member who will be snowbound for at least a few days in the D.C. area, so they can make this for the kids at lunchtime when they come in from building snow forts. I was looking for something to make for a Valentine's Day breakfast since if falls on a weekend this year, and my trial run with this recipe was a hit! I just used plain sandwich bread, but this would be even better made with Cinnamon Bread, which is what I'm now planning for Valentine's Day.

Spread one slice of bread with softened cream cheese, and the other slice of bread with strawberry jam. Put them together to make a sandwich and dip in a mixture of 3 eggs, 1/4 cup milk, and a teaspoon of vanilla extract (enough to serve four). Brown in one tablespoon melted butter and serve with maple syrup and powdered sugar with some crispy bacon on the side - YUMM!!

Much Will Be Expected ~ Saints and Scripture Sunday

Luke 12:48 From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

I know, I'm all hung up on Luke lately for some reason. I actually didn't even realize this was from Luke, but I've been hearing it in my head all week like a bad 80's song, so I thought this was probably what I was supposed to post about today. This is an excellent scripture for those "Why Me?" days. If you've been given strength, intelligence, and good friends it's because you're going to need them. So when difficulties arise, don't whine, just remember God won't give you a challenge unless He has either prepared you to handle it or provided someone in your life who can help you though it. I guess there's a good reason this has been running through my head all week!

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