The Law of the Garbage Truck

This story was shared with me the other day and I just had to pass it along. . .

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car drove out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean he was really friendly. So I asked, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital! This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home or on the streets. The bottom line is successful people don't let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets.

Have a marvelous, garbage-free day! The seeds you plant today determine the harvest you reap tomorrow.

Couponing 101 with Steph

So I've had a lot of people asking me how I do what I do. Like people calling me on the phone and stuff. I've even had several people almost begging me to take them shopping with me so they can see how it's done. Yes, I am that cool.



Now I would love to take anyone shopping with but getting up at 5 am to run to the grocery store on Wednesday morning kind of ruins it for some people. I can barely get up myself so I understand. A month or so ago I typed all this up and emailed it to a couple of other friends who were ready to up their couponing game. Anyway all of this information and tons more can be found at my favorite website http://www.pinchingyourpennies.com/. They even explain things better over there. PYP was started 5 years ago by two moms here in Cache Valley Utah (Hyde Park to be exact). I was led to it several years ago by an ebay seller turned website owner Kim of http://www.youcanmakethis.com/. The owners of PYP are top notch people and for that reason PYP is free and will always be free which is way cool. There are a TON of other grocery/couponing sites that charge a monthly fee for their service and tips.



This is how I do it. You may like to organize things differently but this is what works for me. Something to remember is Utah is losing all it's Albertson's stores except 2 in St. George on Oct. 25th. Also as I said this was typed for some friends several weeks ago. So when it says last week it was really a few weeks ago. I'm too lazy to redo the whole thing. I've still had some great recent trips like this week I got Kellogg's cereal for FREE, Ronzoni whole grain pasta for .20 cents/box, granola bars for .50/box. . . Even though the below list is older I think it still paints a good picture of how I organize my shopping trips and the possible scenarios with some of these sales.



Here goes:

#1 Get some coupons.

I get 3 copies of the Sunday Paper. Some experts recommend 1 paper per member of your family but 3 has been enough for us.




I have signed up with Smith’s and get coupons from them about every 3 months.




In Utah the Red Plum insert now comes in most people’s mail. Not mine, (because apparently I just think I'm that cool, according to my zip code I am not) but ask your family or neighbors if they are using them and get extras.




Tons of coupons are now available online. Each month there are 100’s of new coupons. Check PYP’s "Printing Pennies" forum for links to all of them.

#2 Organize

Figure out a way to organize your coupons that works for you. I like to cut all my coupons. I keep them organized in a Coupon Caddie. Seen here http://www.pinchingyourpennies.com/caddie.htm. I only take the coupons I am going to use to the store. I don’t take all my coupons to the store which means I sometimes miss out on deals but that’s okay. Some people leave their inserts whole and file them by date. They clip only the coupons they will use and right before they use them. Some people keep all their coupons in a binder with baseball card protectors and keep all their coupons in those. Apparently I have not evolved to that level yet. I highly doubt I will ever be a binder carrier but that's okay. You have to do what works for you.

#3 Planning your meals

Shopping with coupons requires you to plan your meals a little differently. I plan my meals by the month. We eat 30 different dinners during the month. Each month is a little different by just a few meals so I know how much to stock up on of certain products. I know in 12 months time we will eat 18 cans of green chilies so when they are on sale I stock up. Or in 1 years time we need about 120 boxes of cereal. We eat out of our food storage every single day. At the beginning of the month and each week a small portion of our food budget goes to just a few fresh items like sour cream, milk, eggs, etc. Even cheeses and meat I store. Like I got Tillamook cheese for .80 cents a lb a couple of weeks ago so I have 10 lbs, shredded and chunk, in the freezer. We have 105lbs of all different kinds and cuts of meat in the freezer as well.

#4 Storage organization.

Keep your food storage organized. There’s lots of ways to do this but you need to know where everything is, how much you have and when it expires. If you don’t all that $ you saved by couponing is pointless.


#5 Rock Bottom Prices

I only buy items when they hit rock bottom prices unless it’s something I absolutely have to have. Here is a good price list that shows rock bottom prices for groceries in Utah. You will need to cut and paste it into your browser. When things hit a 5 star deal and occasionally a 4 star deal I stock up.



http://www.pinchingyourpennies.com/PricePoints.xls

#6 Grocery store ads and promotions

Each week I pair my coupons with grocery store ads. This is easy because PYP has done all the work by posting each stores ad paired with the available coupons and it tells you where to find the coupon if you are a person that doesn’t clip them until you use them. PYP also tells you what kind of deal it is a 3 star, 4 star or 5 star. You can also sign up for these free shopping lists to come straight to your email. The lists are also usually out on Monday two days before most of the ads start in Utah giving you plenty of time to plan. They do have other states shopping lists. Go to the site and check it out. http://www.pinchingyourpennies.com/

Not only do Smith’s and Albertson’s have sale prices they also have special promotions each week. Sometimes it’s instant savings. In this case you purchase a certain number of specified products or specified products up to a certain amount and the register instantly takes off $$$. This is calculated BEFORE coupons. Sometimes you get $ back in the form of a Catalina coupon to be used on your next shopping trip. This is also calculated BEFORE coupons and will come from the Catalina machine. These spend like cash at the store they were earned at. PYP also puts these deals and available catalinas on their shopping lists.

The trick to using these is to make sure you stay right at the increment you have to spend to earn the Catalina. If it says spend $30 or more and get $15 ONLY spend $30. If you want more, do another transaction and earn $15 again. Do this again and again for maximum savings. Use your $15 from the previous transaction each time you check out. Albertsons will let you do 3 separate transactions at a time after that you have to get in line again. With the instant savings you can usually do as many as you want in a single transaction.

Double coupons – Most weeks in their ad and in the Sunday paper Albertson’s has printed double coupon vouchers. Each one will double one coupon up to an additional $1. The trick is you can only use one set per shopping trip. So you have to take your stuff out to the car and walk back in again. Sounds like a lot of work but I think the savings is worth it. Last week Smiths had unlimited double coupons for 3 days. No one knows if this will be something they do more often but watch for it. PYP listed tons of items and where to find the coupons to go with this double coupon promo as well.

So. . .

Sale prices + coupons + available double coupons + store instant savings/catalinas = maximum savings on your groceries.

#7 Make a list

I first use PYP’s shopping lists. They have a shrink feature so you can highlight the items you want, then shrink the list so only the items you will be buying print. I then make lists for each of my transactions. I organize my coupons in little piles for each transaction with a paper clip.

#8 Shop early


Besides without kids it’s important to get to these sales early especially in Utah. I go each Wednesday (the 1st day of the ads) and at 6am when the stores open. This way I will get everything on my list in the right amounts to get the most savings. Another good day is Saturday morning at least for Albertson’s because they restock during the night Friday. Also take your ad with you. That way you can make sure you get the right stuff or if you have questions about which size you can look.

So here is a list of my shopping transactions. I have done them 2 different ways the first shows savings by product and the second shows savings by transaction. Maybe this will help you see how/where I was able to save. I always calculate the savings from a Catalina on the products I bought to earn it.

(I) = Coupon I got from the Sunday inserts or Red Plum insert in the mail
(IP) = Internet Printed coupon
OYNO = Catalina, money you can spend on your next order. Like cash back.

Trip #1 Smith’s for double coupons & Proctor and Gamble buy any 4 P&G products (mix or match) save $4 instantly.

Transaction #1
6 boxes Honey Bunches of Oats $1.88
- $1/2 boxes (I) x 3 = -$3
-$3 double coupons
Earned $5 OYNO for buyin 5 boxes
Final price $.05/box

4 Raid Wasp & Hornet Spray $4.89
-$1/1 can (I) x 4 =-$4
-$4 double coupons
Earned $2 OYNO for buying 4 cans
Final Price $2.39/can

Transaction #2
Used my $7 earned on the last transaction as tender

4 boxes 40 load Tide $5.88
-$4 Instant Savings
-$1/1 box (I) x 4 = -$4
-$4 double coupons
Final price $2.88/box

4 216 count Puffs tissues $1.69
-$4 Instant savings
-$.25/3 boxes (I)
-$.25 double coupons
Final price .57/box

Crest toothpaste $1
-.50/1 box (I) x 4 = -$2
-$2 double coupons
Final price FREE




4 20 count Tampax $2.99
-$4 Instant Savings
-.50/1 box (I) x 4 = -$2
-$2 double coupons
final price .99/box

6 cartons Yoplait Yogurt .60
-.60/3 cartons (IP) x 2 = -$1.20
-1.20 double coupons
final price .20/carton

8 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel $2
-.55/2 boxes (IP) x 4 = -$2.20
-$2.20 double coupons
Final Price = $1.45/box

2 Ritz Bits sandwiches $2.99
-$1/1 box (IP)
-$1 doubled
Final price $.99/box

4 Duracell Batteries 4pk $2.99
-$1.50/1 pack (I) x 4 = -$6
-$2 double coupons (Smiths will only double the coupons up to $2 total value)
Final price .99/pack

3 Nalley Pickles $1.99
-$1/1 jar (I) x 3 = -$3
-$3 double coupons
Final Price FREE

8 Mentos Gum .$1
-.55/1 pack (I) x 8 = -$4.40
-$3.60 double coupons ( Smith’s will not double over the value of the item)
Final Price FREE

2 Kelloggs Rice Krispies $1.50
-$1/2 boxes (I)
-$1 doubled
Final Price .50/box

2 12 count Kelloggs Pop Tarts $1.50
-$1/2 (I)
-$1 Double Coupons
Final Price .50/box

3 Secret Deodorant $2.33
-$1/1 (I) x 3 = -$3
-$3 doubled
Final Price .33/deo

4 Right Guard Deodorant $1
-$1/2 (I) x 2 = -$2
-$2 Double coupons
Final Price FREE

1 Degree Ion Deodorant $2.49
-.75/1 (I)
-.75 Double coupons
Final Price .99/deo

3 pack Juicy Fruit Gum $2.19
-.1/1 (I)
-$1 double coupons
Final Price .19/3 pack

3 pack Twizzlers $1.67
-$1/3 (I)
-$1 double coupons
Final Price $1/bag


2 6packs Dannon Light and Fit Yogurt $1.88
-$1/2 6 packs (I)
-$1 doubled
Final Price .88/6 pack

3 Danimal Crush Cups $1.88
-$1/1 Cruch cups (I) x 3 = -$3
-$2.64 double coupons
Final Price FREE

3 Danimal Drinkables $1.88
-$1/1 drinkables (I) x 3 = -$3
-$2.64 double coupons
Final Price FREE

2 Eggo Waffles $1.50
-$1/2 (I)
-$1 double coupons
Final Price .50/box

1 Keebler Sandies $2.50
-$1/1 Sandies (IP)
-$1 double coupons
Final Price .50/pack

4 6oz Land o Frost Bistro sliced Roast Beef $2.99
-$1/1 Bistro (I) x 4 = -$4
-$4 doubled
Final Price .99/pack

1 16oz Land o Frost Ham $3.49
-$1/1 (I)
-$1 doubled
Final Price $1.49/pack

3 tubs Land O Lakes Butter $1.25 (marked down because close to expiration)
-$.50/1 tub (I) x 3
-$1.50 double coupons
Final Price .25/tub

Total spent at Smiths $66.18
Total Saved at Smiths $214.12
Saved 69%

Trip #2 Albertson’s

Transaction #1
3 24 oz Dove Shampoo $4.99
-$1/1 Bottle (I) x 3
4 Vasaline Lotions $5
-$1.25/1 bottle (I) x 2
-$1 double coupon
-$1 Double coupon
-$1 double coupon
Earned $12 OYNO from Unilever
Earned $15 OYNO because I spend $30 before coupons
Final cost FREE

Transaction #2
6 boxes Q-tips $3.49
-.30/1 box (I)x 4
2 24oz Dove Conditioner $4.99
-$1/1 bottle (I)x 2
-$1 double coupon
-$1 double coupon
-$.30 double coupon
Earned $12 OYNO from Unilever
Earned $15 OYNO because I spent $30 before coupons
Final Cost FREE

Transaction #3
6 BC Cookie Mix $1.67
-.40/1pouch (I) x 6
8 Pillsbury cookie dough $2.50
-$1/2 packs (IP) x 4
-$1 double coupon
-$1 double coupon
-$1 double coupon
Earned $15 OYNO because I spent $30
Final Cost for entire transaction $5.60

Transaction #4
5 All Detergent $3.50
-$1/1 bottle (I) x 5
6 BC Fruit Snacks $2
-.40/1 box (IP) x 6
1 box BC cake mix $1
1 tub BC frosting $1.50
-.55/ both Cake & Frosting (I)
-$1 double coupon
-$1 double coupon
-$1 double coupon
Earned $15 OYNO because I spent $30
Final Cost for entire transaction $6.05

Transaction #5
4 BC cake Mix $1
1 BC Frosting $1.50
-$.55/both cake and frosting (IP)
4 Chex Mix $1.67
-.50/1 bag (IP) x 4
2 jars Skippy Natural PB $2
-.75/2 jars (I)
2 Ragu Spaghetti Sauce $1.67
-$1/2 jars (IP)
2 Lipton Rice Sides $1
-.75/2 pouches (I)
1 Yoplait Yo-Plus Yogurt $2.50
-$1/1 pack (IP)
1 Breyers Ice cream $3
-$1/1 (I)
1 Degree Deodorant $2.50
-.75/1 (I)
1 Suave Body Wash $2
-.50/1 (I)
1 Vasaline Lotion $2.50
-$1.25/1 bottle (I)
-$1 double coupon
-$1 double coupon
Earned $15 OYNO because I spent $30
Earned $1 OYNO because I bought 2 Skippy Naturals
Final cost of for entire transaction $3.71

Transaction #6
2 Pringles Chips $1.50
-$1/2 cans (I)
1 box Pampers Diaper $18.99
-$1/1 Pampers (I)
1 tub Pampers sensitive wipes $3.49
FREE when you buy any Pamper’s diapers (I)
-$1 double coupon
-$1 double coupon
Earned $5 OYNO for buying $20 in P&G products
Final cost for entire transaction $12.99

Transaction #7
2 Pringles Chips $1.50
-$1/2 cans (I)
1 box Pampers Diapers $18.99
-$1/1 Pampers (I)
1 tub Pampers sensitive wipes $3.49
FREE when you buy any Pamper’s diapers (I)
-$1 double coupon
-$1 double coupon
Earned $5 OYNO for buying $20 in P&G products
Final cost for entire transaction $12.99

Transaction #8
18 jars Ragu $1.67
-$1/2 jars (IP) x 9
-$1 double coupon
-$1 double coupon
-$1 double coupon
-$1 double coupon
-$1 double coupon
Earned $15 OYNO for spending $30
Final cost for entire transaction $1

Transaction #9
18 jars Ragu $1.67
-$1/2 jars (IP) x 9
-$1 double coupon
-$1 double coupon
-$1 double coupon
-$1 double coupon
-$1 double coupon
Earned $15 OYNO for spending $30
Final cost for entire transaction $1

Total Spent at Albertson’s $43.34
Saved at Albies $371.74
Saved 89%

Trip #3 Macey’s
15 Speed Stick Deodorant 2/$4
-$2/1 stick (Someone stuffed a ton of coupons in my sister’s mailbox!)
Final cost for entire transaction FREE

Total saved $623.21 or 86% off my grocery bill

Cost of coupons:
$11.80/month for my newspaper subscription.
About $5 in printer ink and paper.

Time printing, organizing my list 1 hour
Time shopping about 3 hours between 2 days

Basically I made $151.60/hour and I don’t have to pay taxes on the money I saved unlike if I had a job outside the home.


I could write a whole other post on being frugal but not cheap. I think in today's world being frugal is definitely an asset.

Fall has brought. . .

MUCH cooler temperatures, fall leaves, a little snow and

Preserving food,

(No grapes this year. Who can forget last years fiasco?

Baking,

This is Brandon's zucchini bread. Yes, seriously, it's Brandon's. My specialty is banana bread. It has vinegar in it. You should ask me for the recipe. :)

Apple picking,

Ray-Ray and Ella in the apple tree.

And the highlight of the month?

New well drilling.

Food Food Food

Since I haven't done a "what are we eating" post for a while . . .

Sunday -

Roasted chicken

roasted potatoes & yams w/garlic

steamed artichokes

green salad

Fresh baked bread

Monday-

Chinese Chicken Salad

Fresh fruit

Tuesday-

Garlic & fresh Ginger Pork Chops

Brown Rice

Steamed green beans

Wednesday-

Pancakes

Eggs

Bacon

Thursday-

Beef Fajitas

Friday-

Chicken Stir-fry w/ snow peas, broccoli, carrots, bok choy, mushrooms, onion, celery

Steamed rice

Saturday-

Hamburgers

Sweet potatoe fries

green salad

And for the rest of the month-

Taco Soup

Pork Roast

Beef Tacos

Waffles

Chicken Rolls

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Spagetti

Homemade pizza

Hamburger Soup

Chicken & Stuffing casserole

Cheesey Ham & Potato Bake

Lasagne

Hamburgers on the grill

Chicken Alfredo

Breakfast Burritos

Beef Pasta Bake

Meat Loaf

Tex Mex Chicken

Chicken Enchiladas

And now I'm hungry!

10 Years Old!

10 Great New Things You Can Do As a Ten-Year-Old:

1. Eat ten pieces of cake.

(one for each year right?)

2. Brag about blowing out ten candles.

(Nine is, like, for amateurs.)

3. Count your age using all of your fingers.

(That pinky's been waiting for this day!)

4. Say, "Oh, oops, that was SO nine of me."

(Especially fun around younger kids.)

5. Kiss those single-digit days good-bye.

(Hasta la vista, little numeros!)

6. Remind everyone you're only six years away from a driver's license. . .

(Is there a speed limit for growing up?)

7. . . . and only one "e" away from being a TEEN.

(TeEN! See?)

8. Have everyone address you as "Your X-Cellence."

(A Roman numeral you can actually use!)

9. Celebrate being a decade old.

(The best thing to happen to the nineties was ME!)

10. And Finally. . . enjoy being a perfect ten!

Dear Christian,

here are so many cool reasons to celebrate being ten. . .

and to celebrate being you!

Happy Birthday!

We love you!!!

P.S. Being 10 means you can go to Sushi with your family for your birthday dinner too!

A day at Hogwart's

It all started last spring. Christian's 3rd grade teacher and another 3rd grade class did "Harry Potter Days." For one full month they read and did activities around the book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. He was hooked! He was hooked on reading! He could not put Harry Potter down. All summer he read book after book in the series. It seemed only fitting to have a Harry Potter party for his 10th birthday. Here are the details for our party. Maybe this will help other moms who are planning the same type of party.

We started with invitations for Christian, Parker and 8 of his 4th grade friend's to attend Hogwart's for a special mid-term class. Christian insisted they look as close as possible to the ones in the book.

Each invite was personally addressed to each child and personally delivered. The envelope was addressed to each boy but I used Harry's address from the book. Christian REALLY wanted them delivered by owl, and although there are owls everywhere here, it really wasn't a possibility. LOL He then tried to convince me to let him doorbell ditch them. Being the mean mom I am I wouldn't let him do that either. Plus how do you doorbell ditch people that have a house up a mile long dirt lane? About half the kids weren't home so he got to stick them in their door which seemed to appease him.

Each invite read:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Dear Mr. C.Parish (or insert child's name),

We are pleased to inform you that you have been invited to Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for special mid-term classes in honor of Head Boy Christian’s tenth birthday. Your class schedule will include orientation and matriculation, potions, care of magical creatures, divination, and defense against the dark arts. There will also be a special birthday feast featuring treats from Three Broomsticks and Honeyduke's Sweet Shop in Hogsmeade.

Classes will begin at the stroke of 2:30 in the afternoon on Friday, September 25 th. After shopping at Zonko's Joke Shop classes will conclude at 5:30 in the evening. Please take the Hogwarts Express train currently disguised as the Muggle school bus #(Our bus) to Hogwarts Academy currently disguised as the Muggle home at (our address). There you will find the magical door visible only to Hogwarts students, friends and families. The password is flibbertigibblet. The surrounding area is well-protected by Memory Charms, so it will be safe to practice magic indoors and outdoors weather permitting. We encourage you to wear wizard attire, but if you must come incognito feel free to arrive dressed in the Muggle manner.

Please respond by OWL to (my email) or Muggle telephone system (my phone number) with a yes or no response. We look forward to your arrival at Hogwarts.

Sincerely,

Professor Parish

Deputy Headmistress of Frolic and Feasts
Hogwarts Academy

I had some equally creative RSVP email responses. It was so fun!

All the children arrived on the bus. We have an awesome bus driver who is also a neighbor so that makes life much easier. Brandon downloaded a bunch of Harry Potter songs from the movies including the theme song and had that playing loud enough that it could be heard outside. We played the music throughout the party and can I just say John William's is the man! I made them line up outside and tell me the password. They were then sorted into houses, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, & Gryffendor. I left out Slitherin because they are all naughty evil guys. LOL They got to wear my witches hat and draw a house crest out of a bag. We talked about the classes they would be attending and that after completing each class they would receive money either a Galleon, Sickle, or Knut (Wizard currency).

Since all wizards and witches need magic wands we made those first. It took a walk through the Forbidden Forest full of spiders to get to wand making but they all survived.

Next was their Defense Against the Dark Arts class. We played a game called the Basilisk Stare. I made cards on the computer that had picture and the name of creatures or animals from the stories. I used the following creatures: 1. Basilisk the deadly serpent with lethal breathe and glance, 2. Buckbeak Sirius Black's hippogriff, 3. Crookshanks - Hermione Granger's cat, 4. Fawkes Dumbledore's pet phoenix, 5. Grawp Hagrid's Giant brother, 6. Hungarian Horntail the dragon Harry faces in the Triwizard Tournament, 7. Hedwig Harry Potter's pet owl, 8. Murcus the Mercheiftaness of the Black Lake, 19. Scabbers Ron Weasley's pet rat, 110. Thestral the creature that pulls the coaches to Hogwarts. The game went like this: Each child drew one card, peeked at it and then hid it. Whoever drew the card with the Basilisk on it was the Basilisk, or IT. The children all stared into each others eyes. The Basilisk blinked both eyes at its victims, who then died (fell over however dramatically they chose-indicating they were dead). When someone who had not been killed yet was able to figure out the Basilisk's identity, they won and the game started over. We played about 5 rounds. I think they could have played this all day!

Next was Divination Class. They first had to climb the stairs past the rats and then to the North Tower aka Parker's bedroom. We all made origami fortune tellers. They had pre-printed fortunes. These are the fortunes we used. 1. A Basilisk will escape and hide in your plumbing. Beware long baths. 2. Congratulations! You will be drafted as the next Seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. 3. Oh no! Due to a Transfiguration error, you will spend several weeks as a pumpkin. 4. Way to go! During Astronomy Class, you will discover a new planet which will be named for you. 5. Watch out! You will be stampeded by a herd of raging Hippogriffs. 6. You will fall in love with a Centaur and move to a tree house in the Forbidden Forest 7. The Weasley brothers will hire you to test their new joke shop products. You will never be the same! 8. You will live a very long life, but as a werewolf. Beware of full moons! Oooooooowwwww.

After Divination and passing through the rats again we had Potions Class down in the kitchen. We did this in groups of 5 with the other 5 looking on. Each child chose which potion he wanted to make. We had recipes for

Amortentia - very strong love potion
Flower kernels, Unicorn nectar, Unicorn dust, Dittany, Fairy soil, Asphodel

Babbling Beverage - this potion makes the drinker babble (talk) a lot and speak nonsense Beetle eyes, Lizard slime, Stinking pond water, Asphodel, Dittany, Bat liver

Confusion Concoction this potion causes the drinker to be confused for several hours Lizard slime, Flower kernels, Unicorn dust. Dittany, Wriggly bloodworms, Unicorn nectar

Felixelicis – this is a potion that makes the drinker very lucky.
Goblin sweat, Asphodel, Knotwood, Unicorn nectar, Dittany, Beetle eyes

Sleeping Draught - this potion makes the drinker sleep
Bat liver, Wriggly bloodworms, Latent tonic, Stinking pond water, Fairy soil, Dittany, Unicorn dust.

Some fizzed, some stunk, some smelled good, some changed colors a couple times. They all shrieked and ooohed and ahhhed throughout this class.

Here is what I used for ingredients, this could easily be altered:

Lizard Slime - green jello

Beetle Eyes - poppy seeds

Unicorn Dust - baking soda

Bat Liver - chopped mushrooms (canned)

Wriggly Bloodworms - cooked spaghetti in reddish-pink water

Latent tonic - dark purple water (food colored)

Stinking Pond Water - vinegar

Dittany - Pop Rocks

Flower kernels - candy sprinkles

Unicorn nectar - apple juice

Fairy soil - brown sugar

Goblin Sweat - mustard & water

Asphodel - powdered sugar

Knotwood - peanuts

Next was Care of Magical Creatures. The barn was Hagrid's house. He is on vacation and some of his magical creatures escaped in the fields. They had to work in teams of their house. Each house had the list of escaped magical creatures, which had a picture of the creature and how many points it was worth to recover it. I had bought these pokey balls which had little faces, heads, and tails. I gave them names, Crinkle Sprinklers, Spaghetti Sisters, Quaklers. After they had found all the creatures I told them Fawkes, Dumbledore's Phoenix, was also lost. It was of utmost importance that it was returned to Dumbledore's office before he returned, so was worth the most points. They all ran out to find Fawkes. They loved it. Each creature was worth a different amount of money.

Then it was time to gather in the Great Hall for the head boy Christian to open his gifts.

We sang "Happy Birthday" and blew out candles.

Next we had our feast from Three Broomsticks.

We had chocolate Frog cakes & Shrunken toad pudding,

Licorice wands,

Broomsticks & Cheese, Magic Pumpkin Chunks (cantaloupe), and Unicorn Ice cream (Playdough).

To drink we had Pumpkin Juice (Sprite, Orange Sherbet, Dry Ice) and Butterbeer. Butterbeer is from the books. It is much like Rootbeer. It is non-alcoholic and a butterscotch flavor. I used regular old Creme Soda. They were sure it was something special. ;)

After feasting each child pulled out their money they had been earning for completion of each class and they got to go shopping at Zonko's Joke Shoppe.

I made sure they all had just the right amount to buy one of each fun item.

They then got to go the Honeyduke's Sweet Shoppe

and get one of each goodie. These were on the house and didn't cost a thing. We had:

1. Droobles Best Blowing Gum

2. Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans

3. Dumbledore's Lemon Drops - lemon drops

4. Owl Pellets - Chocolate covered raisins

5. Whizzing Worms - gummy worms

6. Witches Teeth - Candy Corn

7. Gummy Fangs and brains

8. Pop Rocks

9. Chocolate Frogs.

After 3 hours it was time to go home. It was a blast!

(Apparently Parker was turned into some type of bird?)

Flashback Friday - Swimmers!