LAST day to enter the $25 Catholic Child Gift Cert. Giveaway

Just a reminder--if you haven't entered yet, you still have through the end of today to enter to win a $25 gift certificate to Catholic Child Catalog.

Mother Teresa Honored on U.S. Stamp

WASHINGTON — With this 44-cent stamp, the U.S. Postal Service recognizes Mother Teresa, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her humanitarian work. 

The stamp was issued during a special ceremony held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in the nation’s capital.

Noted for her compassion toward the poor and suffering, Mother Teresa, a diminutive Roman Catholic nun and honorary U.S. citizen, served the sick and destitute of India and the world for nearly 50 years.

“Often, stamps are referred to as a nation’s ‘calling cards’ because they reach a national, and even an international audience,” said Postmaster General John Potter in dedicating the stamp. “They focus attention on subjects our country regards with respect and affection, and that is certainly true of Mother Teresa, who believed so deeply in the innate worth and dignity of humankind and worked tirelessly on behalf of the poor, sick, orphaned and dying. That’s why today I am so very proud that our country, after making her an honorary citizen in 1996, is honoring Mother Teresa with such a lasting memorial.”

When Mother Teresa accepted the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize — one of her numerous honors and distinctions — she did so “in the name of the poor, the hungry, the sick and the lonely,” and convinced the organizers to donate to the needy the money normally used to fund the awards banquet. Well respected worldwide, she successfully urged many of the world’s business and political leaders to give their time and resources to help those in need. President Ronald Reagan presented Mother Teresa with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985, the same year she began work on behalf of AIDS sufferers in the U.S. and other countries. In 1997, Congress awarded Mother Teresa the Congressional Gold Medal for her “outstanding and enduring contributions through humanitarian and charitable activities.”

Joining Potter in dedicating the stamp were James H. Bilbray, member, Board of Governors, U.S. Postal Service; Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio of the United States; The Most Rev. Barry Knestout, auxiliary bishop, Archdiocese of Washington; Reverend Monsignor Walter Rossi, rector, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception; Sister Leticia, MC, provincial superior, Missionaries of Charity; and, Mitzi Betman, vice president, Corporate Communications, U.S. Postal Service. Mother Teresa stamp artist Thomas Blackshear II, was also in attendance.

Mother Teresa died in Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta), India, on Sept. 5, 1997, and is buried there. She was a citizen of India since 1948.

In 1996, President Bill Clinton and the U.S. Congress awarded Mother Teresa honorary U.S. citizenship. The honor has only been bestowed on six others. Winston Churchill received it in 1963, Raoul Wallenberg in 1981, William Penn and Hannah Callowhill Penn in 1984, the Marquis de Lafayette in 2002 and General Casimir Pulaski in 2009. With the exception of Hannah Callowhill Penn, each of these figures has also appeared on a U.S. postage stamp:  the Marquis de Lafayette four times (1952, 1957, 1976, and 1977), William Penn in 1932, Churchill in 1965 and 1991, and Wallenberg in 1997. General Pulaski was honored on postage in 1931 and 1979.

The stamp features a portrait of Mother Teresa painted by award-winning artist Thomas Blackshear II of Colorado Springs, CO.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark

Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at a local Post Office, at The Postal Store website at www.usps.com/shop or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes to themselves or others, and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

Mother Teresa Stamp
Special Cancellations
PO Box 92282
Washington, DC  20090-2282

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by Nov. 5, 2010.

Starbucks: Free Artisan Breakfast Sandwich

If you are not already a My Starbucks Rewards member, sign up before September 21 and you'll get a coupon for a free Artisan Breakfast sandwich (an artisan roll topped with egg, cheese and choice of bacon or ham). The coupon will be valid through 11/30/10.

Other benefits for card members include a Free drink on your birthday and free refills on brewed coffee and tea.

Kohl's Coupon: 15% Off Everything

If you're going to shop at Kohl's this weekend, print this coupon first and bring it with you.  With it you'll save an extra 15% off everything (including clearance items).

Shopping online instead?  Use the promo code THANKYOU15 to get the discount. The coupon and code are valid September 3-6.

Thanks, Shellie

Free Fatima Calendar

Request a free 2011 America Needs Fatima calendar. 

I've made it to Lourdes, but I haven't made it to Fatima yet.  Maybe someday when I win the lottery!  :)

Giveaway Winners: Grace Before Meals

Congratulations to Shannon W. (favorite family meal = spaghetti) and Kerrie M. (favorite family meal = red beans and rice).  Each has won a copy of Grace Before Meals by Fr. Leo Patalingug!

My favorite family meal is homemade lasagna--Mmmmmm!  My son doesn't like cheese, though, so he just has pasta instead.

Here are some more of your favorite meals from the entry form:

The winner (by far!) with about a third of all the entries was spaghetti/pasta
The runner up was meatloaf
Pizza
Chicken and Rice
Steak/Salad
Stir-Fry
Lasagna

Sunday Breakfast (a favorite at our house, too)
Tacos (also chicken tacos)
Ribs
Shanghai Lumpia (I'm not familiar w/ that. Want to share a recipe?)
Sukiyaki
Black Bean Soup
Salad with chicken nuggets on top
Round Steak/Mashed Potatoes
breakfast for dinner

Korean Food
Mexican Food
Italian Food
Enchiladas
any meal together at dinnertime
any meal together at breakfast

Free Classic e-Books

Click on one of the links below--the e-books are temporarily marked down to FREE--and you can download them to your Kindle bookreader, Blackberry, iPod, or PC.

Below the book image and description, look for the section that says "Customers who bought this item also bought" and you'll see a bunch more free titles!

My Antonia
The Velveteen Rabbit
Utopia

Oliver Twist
The Secret Garden

Thanks, Heidi

Cheap Meals, Menu Organization

I occasionally visit 5DollarDinners.com to get some quick inspiration for cheap lunches or dinners.  The site is written by a Mom who challengers herself to keep each meal to $5.00 or under, and she comes up with some hearty meals that are kind to the budget.  She also has some nice printables for menu planning, grocery lists, pantry organization, etc. 

If you are trying to keep to the government's thrifty ideal for grocery spending, her site may help!

$5.00/5 Kraft Coupon

We save, they donate--nice! Print this coupon for $5 off 5 Kraft dairy or cheese products and when you use it, Kraft will donate 5 meals to Feeding America.  You can print a second coupon by clicking your browser's back button (there's a limit of 2 prints per computer).

*The $5 coupon can be redeemed with the purchase of any 5 KRAFT cheese or dairy products (6 oz. or larger, unless otherwise specified). Offer valid 9/1/10–11/7/10.
Kraft Foods will donate up to 1 million meals to Feeding America. The monetary equivalent of a meal will be donated. $0.70 = 5 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local food banks. Offer excludes Breakstone’s and Knudsen Cottage Cheese and Sour Cream in CO, CA and ND.

Seventh Generation Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Jessie C, whose entry was randomly chosen to win the Seventh Generation Back-to-School giveaway!

FTD Good Neighbor Day -- Free Flowers

FTD is celebrating Good Neighbor Day today. Here's what the FTD website says:

Friendship & Goodwill
The 16th Annual FTD® Good Neighbor Day® holiday will take place on
September 1, 2010. Hundreds of FTD florists across the U.S. are planning exciting local events, gathering sponsors, making philanthropic relationships and helping to spread friendship and kindness to their neighbors through the distribution of free floral bouquets.

Gift of Flowers
FTD florists have celebrated FTD® Good Neighbor Day® since 1994, encouraging all neighbors to help create a friendlier, more caring and compassionate world through the gift of flowers. That's why customers are encouraged to keep one flower for themselves and give the others away — brightening the day of many other people.

Check this list to see if there is a participating florist in your area and maybe you can brighten someone's day today.   :)