Today was one of those days that started dreary and cloudy, then as the day progressed it cleared up just enough for the sun to peek through the clouds.

My boys found a pallet and began taking it apart in order to make something new. My girls played in the woods behind our house, running through the leaves and enjoying the cooler air. My oldest daughter asked to borrow my camera, because it was just a perfect day to take pictures.

I think someone might want to borrow the camera more often.

For more Autumn photos visit You Capture, hosted each week by I Should be Folding Laundry.

Growing up in Florida, fall consisted of the two days you needed to wear your jacket to the bus stop. Now that I live further north I love fall.

Crisp mornings, long sleeve shirts, roasting marshmallows by the fire, changing leaves and cheap apples. It is nice when your favorite fruit is in season .

What is your favorite thing about fall?

This post is linking to Things I Love Thursday. This weeks You Capture challenge is Red.

Today you have a chance to make a difference, and all you need to do is tweet, sign on Facebook, or write a blog post!

Weight Watchers is donating $1 Million Dollars to help fight hunger. The donation will be split between Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger.  Last year, the campaign impacted more than 250,000 children and families domestically and actually represented the difference between life and death for more than 6,000 malnourished children abroad.

You have the opportunity to increase the donation by $25,000!

Lose-A-Palooza is a one-day online social networking event taking place on September 15, 2009 to help raise awareness for the Lose For Good™ campaign! For every accepted mention or acknowledgment of “Lose For Good” made on September 15 via blogs, Twitter, Facebook and MySpace, Weight Watchers will make an additional donation – up to $25,000* – for just one day of social media activity.  This donation is on top of the $1 million Weight Watchers is hoping to donate to Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger as part of the 2009 Lose For Good campaign!

Here is how you can help:

Twitter

• Tweet #LoseForGood: Share how you are supporting the good with all your Twitter followers. Tweet about the way you’re helping the fight against hunger and be sure to include #LoseForGood.
• Multiply the good: Follow @sharestrength or @acfusa to fill your Twitter stream with good, and then retweet.
• That’s right, each #LoseForGood Tweet and follow to @sharestrength and @acfusa on September 15 provides $1!

Facebook

• Become a fan of the NEW and official Weight Watchers page! And don’t forget our Weight Watchers Supermarket Foods page.
• If you’re already a fan, just post a “Lose For Good” related comment OR “Like” the updates that we’ll post throughout the day.
• Become a fan of our awesome charitable partners – Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger!
• It’s that easy. Join fan pages, comment on our statuses and walls, or simply ‘Like’ updates to our fan pages and you’ll
  be participating in Lose-a-Palooza and helping fight hunger!

Blog It

• Write a blog post about Lose For Good, including the phrase “Lose For Good” and encourage your readers to get involved by visiting www.LoseForGood.com.
• Comment on a blog post about Lose For Good! Be sure to have your friends show their support by commenting on your post –
  every comment relating to “Lose For Good” helps Weight Watchers donate $1!
• In our new Weight Watchers Community, write a blog post about Lose for Good and we’ll make a contribution to the
  fight against hunger.  Remember to use the words “Lose for Good!”

One of my favorite things about blogging is that it brings people together and can impact others in a far reaching way. If you have a minute, please join me today and help the fight against hunger.

As most of you know I love The Blog Frog forums! It is a great way to connect with readers and visit other blogs too. Today I was visiting another forum and came across this dare. I had to leave 50 comments on 50 blogs, today! Never one to back away from a challenge, and since the kids finished school very early today I decided I had time to try it!

I thought it would be fun to tweet each time I commented so people could follow along with my challenge and find some new blogs in the process. Below is the Twitter timeline, and if you click on the url’s it will take you to the posts I read today.

There are some great blogs out there and I really enjoyed reading some new ones and catching up on some old ones too!

If you decide to visit some of these great blogs remember to leave a comment and tell them I sent you!

Here are my 52 Tweets about the blogs I visited today.

Comment 1/50 Baby Monitors aren’t for babies http://bit.ly/142ZRu

comment 2/50 cute post about 2nd day of school, feeling motivated to get working with the kids! http://bit.ly/Gzf0R

Comment 3/50 convince Andrea to share her mini crab cake recipe with me! http://bit.ly/v5w1h

Comment 4/50 the 3 box sorting system…. LOVE IT! http://bit.ly/Tqo5P

Comment 5/50 did you know there was a #notbacktoschool blog hop? I can’t believe I didn’t know! http://bit.ly/uhOWs

Comment 6/50 You can’t go wrong reading @lynnskitchenadv! Great post on whole wheat! http://bit.ly/Dsfsi

comment 7/50 a homeschool experiment…. looks very interesting. Can’t wait to read more! http://bit.ly/zrBga

Comment 8/50 how do you deal with deployments? http://bit.ly/pmdjj

Comment 9/50 This will keep your toddler occupied forever! http://bit.ly/3AwGAw

Comment 10/50 I <3 Faces…. I love this bubble picture! http://bit.ly/vHDaN

Comment 11/50 Do you use layaway? @consumerqueen wants to know! http://bit.ly/3eGfm

Comment 12/50 want to know about the latest giveaways? Check out this blog. http://bit.ly/cvnE8

Comment 13/50 what do you love about the place you call home? http://bit.ly/vWrGG

Comment 14/50 @diaperdiaries and her black thumb. That girl cracks me up! #blogfrog http://bit.ly/zewpL

Comment 15/50 Healthy eating for wimps! Great post! http://bit.ly/2dI6k8

Comment 16/50 Wall E and Christians – thought provoking post! http://bit.ly/1JlmE

Comment 17/50 8 Books that have changed my life! Great post! http://bit.ly/8qyk2

Comment 18/50 Why I am thankful I am not in college anymore, lol! http://bit.ly/8EKVs

Comment 19/50 @fishmama serving up a delicious meal! http://bit.ly/10IpKw

Comment 20/50 just stumbled this recipe so I can try it later zucchini nachos! http://bit.ly/DGzcd

Comment 21/50 Check out @5minutesformom ’s jeans from Kmart, who knew they made such cute clothes??? #blogfrog http://bit.ly/scjp6

Comment 22/50 @5dollardinners Taco Pasta good for the whole family for under $5 Yum! http://bit.ly/15K7VN

Comment 23/50 Check out this new travel blog! http://bit.ly/oE1W3

Comment 24/50 Help this mama solve her fat footed baby dilemma! http://bit.ly/vCyFG

Comment 25/50 Halfway there! I am thinking of participating in the homeschool swap http://bit.ly/5V1DG

Comment 26/50 Any tips for teaching kids how to tie their shoes? http://bit.ly/ZTaZW

Comment 27/50 Multiple emails, one computer…. here is a solution http://bit.ly/aU9EI

Comment 28/50 Every wonder how long to keep that insurance bill? http://bit.ly/167YXo

Comment 29/50 Always loving @casualeverday ’s photography skills! http://tinyurl.com/nln5tu

Comment 30/50 Do you give your kid an allowance? http://tinyurl.com/n2tu69

Comment 31/50 Babies sure do come with a lot of stuff these days! http://tinyurl.com/ldh5qh

Comment 32/50 A MUST READ! Top 10 Freezing Cooking Recipes, perfect for a busy school season http://bit.ly/uBn7j

Comment 33/50 Breakfast casserole with tofu… it looks really good! http://bit.ly/hb9fX

Comment 34/50 I needed this devotional today. http://bit.ly/lSIMU

Comment 35/50 So cute! I love this post about making a dress with your daughter. http://bit.ly/hClOK

Comment 36/50 I will survive! #homeschool #blogfrog http://bit.ly/Zqqio

Comment 37/ 50 Just entered to win @kingdomfirstmom ’s Crayola giveaway! I hope I win! #blogfrog http://bit.ly/cVyGG

Comment 38/50 Do you have a bedtime routine with your children? http://bit.ly/lRHoe

Comment 39/50 Bring your velcro #clothdiapers back to life! http://bit.ly/uq358

Comment 40/50 Have 5 minutes to spare? Declutter your closet with this tip! http://bit.ly/11Xdc5

Comment 41/50 We love playing Uno, how about you? http://bit.ly/qFE9l

Comment 42/50 Any ideas for making the top bunk? http://bit.ly/1b51P

Comment 43/50 are you tired of zucchini posts yet? Freezer tips here! http://bit.ly/DUBO7

Comment 44/50 Secret to great tasting homemade pizza! http://bit.ly/2GNM63

Comment 45/50 Seriously. @jolantheerb has the cutest idea ever for books! http://bit.ly/C9ku

Comment 46/50 Really great Lego Storage Idea http://bit.ly/XAJHh

Comment 47/50 @gencojournal is an amazing photographer! Check out her latest photo shoot! http://bit.ly/1weiK

Comment 48/50 @Mom2TwoVikings is venting today, how about sending her some encouragement! http://bit.ly/4ZtBw

Comment 49/50 I love it when people say nice things about their spouse! http://bit.ly/yxgOR

Comment 50/50 but I have a few more… What do you want to be when you grow up? http://bit.ly/3Ho9wy

Bonus Round! In honor of my 50 comments/ a retro 50’s night post! http://bit.ly/CR30g

And because every good challenge needs to get down and dirty… Owl Pellets anyone? http://bit.ly/OYGkf #blogfrog

That’s it! 52 blogs/ 52 comments. It was fun!

I am not a movie critic, in fact I rarely watch movies. I cannot remember the last movie I watched, but I think it was Enchanted, which strangely enough starred Amy Adams, who is also the star of Julie and Julia.

Since the movie Julie and Julia has the blog world buzzing, I decided to post my thoughts on the movie in case you were deciding whether to spend the big bucks and hit the theatre this weekend.

This movie is based on two true stories, the life of Julia Child and Julie Powell. I think everyone has heard of Julia Child, and every blogger dreams of becoming Julie Powell – a blogger who gets a book deal… and then a movie deal, and then is played in the movie by an absolutely adorable actress, Amy Adams. Well, actually I think I should be played by Angelina Jolie, ( I mean she does have a boatload of kids, just like me).

Back to the movie, since I don’t really know how to write a movie review I’ll break in down into bullets, my specialty.

Good Points:

• Great acting: Seriously, Meryl Streep plays an amazing Julia Child, the voice, the mannerisms, so believable. Whoever plays Julia’s sister is perfect too. Great casting for this movie.
• Great relationships: The love between Julia and her husband Paul is so real on screen. There is great chemistry between Meryl and Stanley Tucci. The relationship between Julie and her husband Eric draws you in as well. It was difficult to remember that these were actors.
• Food: Do not go to this movie hungry. Within the first 15 minutes you will be starving. The food photography is excellent and everything looks so good you can almost taste it.
• True to Life: The ups and downs of blogging is laid out for everyone to see. When Julie gets here first comment there are high fives and cheers. There is a constant wondering of who is reading her blog. Eventually the blog starts to take over her life… (cough, cough, not that I would know anything about that)

Bad Points:

• Potty Mouth: While there is not a ton of profanity, there is some, and it is so unnecessary. Not that it is ever necessary, but this movie would have been better had the nasty language been left out. A quick glance at Julie Powell’s blog made me realize that they toned down the language for this movie…
• Disappointing ending: I do not want to spoil the ending, but let’s just say the movie didn’t feel over when it ended. I left wanting more, wanting closure, and I didn’t get it.

Wrap Up

I liked the movie, but really wished there was no foul language. The acting, story and cinematography were excellent. It was a technical masterpiece, but left me wanting something more. While I was watching it, I didn’t want it to end, but when it ended I felt I needed 5 more minutes. Almost like a book that was missing the last three pages. All in all, I liked the movie and don’t regret spending the $17 (gulp) on a date night with my husband.

I am so excited about some recent changes to the site. You might have noticed that I installed The Blog Frog widget to my side bar. The really fun thing about this widget is that it has created a forum for the site. This is a great way for readers to chat with each other, and it might help me better answer reader questions. I know many readers do not have blogs of their own, so this is a great way for them to voice their opinion on various topics.

I started the first thread with an easy question, Where is your favorite Thrift Store? All you need to do is click on the bottom of the widget and leave your answer in the thread.

You are welcome to start your own thread too.

And as an extra special bonus, for the next week anyone who starts a discussion (or replies to one) is automatically entered to win a $25 Target Gift Card.  All you have to do is start your own discussion or reply to one, and The Blog Frog will take care of the rest.  A great place to start is by introducing yourself. I introduced myself already, although you already know a lot about me, I couldn’t help but join in the discussion.

If you visit my community page you can read my twitter updates, visit my readers’ blogs, and participate in forum discussions.

We have an upright freezer in our garage. I rarely open it because walking through our garage is like running an obstacle course. I was a bit surprised a few weeks ago when I went out there and found all the shelves completely covered in ice. It is time to defrost the freezer, but first I have to do something with all the food. There are several packs of ground beef, a package of chicken, and a bag of giant scallops (yum!). I will attempt to use up the food over the next two weeks so I don’t have to mess with a cooler when we clean out the freezer.

Breakfast- cereal, pancakes, French toast, eggs, pop tarts (lol)

Lunch- honest to goodness I wish lunch didn’t exist! It is such an interruption to our day. But the kids get hungry regardless of how I feel about lunch so I need to plan something. Sandwiches, smoothies, fruit, and carrot sticks are probably the easiest meals I can think of right now.

Dinner-

Mel’s Potato Soup, whole wheat bread, carrot sticks (I am going to experiment and add some pureed cauliflower to the soup to see if I can taste it, I am not a big fan of cauliflower so this should be interesting)

Blackened Scallops with Asiago Cream Sauce, Caesar salad, french bread

Hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, corn on the cob, applesauce

Baked Ziti, salad, green beans, bread

Whole wheat pizza

Chicken… still deciding on exactly what to make but I have a package of boneless skinless breasts I need to use.

I am too lazy to head out to my garage to get a picture of my freezer tonight, but I will get one tomorrow and post some before and after pictures on next week’s menu plan post.

For more than 500 menu plans each week visit Org Junkie.

My extended take it easy time has allowed me to find some link worthy articles over the past week. I have also caught up on my reader, but since I am not a one-handed typist, I haven’t left many comments.

Here are some sites worth visiting if you have the time.

If you can sew check out this link for skirt tutorials, many of them are super cute and easy to make. There is even a link to a 5 minute skirt, which is about all the free time I have right now!

Erin at $5 Dinners shares a healthier chocolate chip cookie recipe. Since I now have no excuse for pigging out, I plan on making these soon!

Do your kids love to clear the table? My niece and nephews do! My sister-in-law shares a neat idea for getting your little kids to want to clear the table.

If your home is like mine you are constantly tripping over balls; soccer, football, bouncy, basketball, it doesn’t matter they are everywhere. This ball storage idea is cheap and easy to make. I hope my husband will make one for us soon!

If you are looking for a fun activity to keep your little ones busy over spring break try this cute craft I saw at the Homeschool Post this week.

Just in time for all those adorable Easter outfits, 5 Minutes for Mom shares some tips for taking great photos of your children.

Remember the Reason we celebrate this Easter weekend.

Welcome to all my Ultimate Blog Party Hoppers! I know you are all busy jumping from blog to blog finding all sorts of new and wonderful bloggers. To keep it short and sweet I’ll introduce myself and then tell you the rest of the story with pictures to keep you moving right along.

I am The Happy Housewife. I have been blogging on this site for over a year. I feel like my site can be summed up by my tagline, “thriving on one income in a two income world.” I am always looking for ways to save money and reuse items in order to live thriftier and “greener.”  This year our challenge is to live on half my husband’s income in order to save for a house. I am also a military wife and mom of 6 (soon to be 7 kiddos) so I write about military life, kids, and homeschooling. The newest project on my site is writing Our Story, or the story of how my husband and I met, got married a few weeks later and well, it isn’t finished yet so I don’t want to give away the ending.

Now on with the photos….

This is me, the picture is actually a bit deceiving because we don’t live on a farm… we live in the suburbs of D.C.

This is the rest of the fam…

Yes, I am married to Mr. Incredible. You can read all about him here.

We have a big family, sometimes people ask if we are trying to field a baseball team, I tell them we prefer soccer.

We love parties so much around here we celebrate 8 of them every year… but that wasn’t enough so this year we are adding another!

We especially love making and eating cake, would you care to join us for some ice cream cake?

Trifle?

Castle Cake?

Star Wars Cake?

or perhaps a Barbie Cake?

I almost always make the cakes myself, because I am frugal…. and I have lots of help in the kitchen.

I love to cook and share many of our family recipes too.

Okay, I don’t really make meals like that, they look more like this…

Every other week I write about Commissary deals to help military families stretch their grocery budget.

I also run a program that donates expired coupons to our military families overseas.

Occasionally I will post super great bargains, like how to get free ice cream just by going out in your pajamas.

We love to have fun and learn ways to make things cheaper and better ourselves.

I love to sew and find new ways to use old things.

Shirt

Dress

Thanks for stopping by, I promise I won’t keep you any longer.

For lots of frugal ideas, “green” living tips, homeschooling adventures, great recipes, organizing tips, military deals, and fun crafty projects subscribe to The Happy Housewife and have each post delivered straight to your inbox or reader.

You can also follow me on Twitter for daily musings, deals, and updates.

If you have a moment you can hop over to my giveaway and enter to win a copy of Melissa’s Great Book of Produce.

There are some great prizes up for grabs at the Ulitmate Blog Party this year. I hope I win some cute hair bows from Chesapeake Ribbons, for my soon to be 3 girls. Or maybe a Made by Michelle diaper bag for the new baby. A gift card to the Heavenly Homemakers gift shop would be great too!