Lately...

Lots going on lately...

1.) Joey did great on the GMAT!!! He'll start his MBA courses at UAB in the fall. I have a feeling I know what Joey is most excited about. He's most excited he'll get to eat those sandwiches out of the vending machines in the business building.

2.) The 10k will be here on Sunday! I'm really excited, but also ready to have this under my belt and marked off my "Goals for 2011" list. I decided running wasn't my passion, but somehow I was talked into running another 10k in May. Thanks Leighton ;) Actually, I'm looking forward to it :) She's running the 10k on Sunday with me so we are officially running buddies. I think we need a name to make it official.

3.) Finley's birthday is April 2nd and as if I wasn't excited enough already, I picked up her birthday outfit this weekend.



My friend Katie over at Stickyfingerz Boutique made the shirt and pants. I love them! She does great work so check her out. I can't get links of my blog to show up so look for her on Facebook. The bow is from a really cute boutique in Pensacola called Ty & KC.

4.) We went to our niece's talent show at church on Friday night. We had no idea we had such a vocally gifted niece. She did great! How an 8 year old has the guts to get on a stage in front of her friends and sing is beyond me. Way to go AG!!!

Here's a pic of Anna Grace, Finley and Drew before the show.



5.) I'm headed to the beach for a week!!! Finley and I will be chaperoning Spring Breakers with a friend of mine. Being around 19 year olds in bikinis won't be too depressing. I think now is the time to try that Daniel Fast.

I hope everyone has a great week!

Lie Berry

First thing this morning Finley and I went to the library. I'm reading to some of the kids in the WAY program on Dr. Seuss's birthday (which is March 2nd if any of you were wondering) and I needed some books to take with me to read. After I got what I needed I realized that Finley had been sitting quietly at one of the computers for about 10 minutes. I think she thought she was actually playing the Dora computer game that was on when really it was just playing the intro over and over again. While she was busy doing that, I started looking through the children's books. So many titles looked familiar, but when I came across these two I had to get them.





My super creative photography skills blow you away don't they?

I definitely want these two books for Finley's library someday. Don't those old covers take you back? I'm feeling very nostaglic ;) I can picture the library at Cahaba Heights Elementary like it was yesterday.



Finley was nice enough to pose for this one even though she dropped the book immediately after I took the picture and grabbed old faithful...The Very Hungry Caterpillar.



Finley enjoyed storytime for a few minutes and even chimed in with "car" when the reader pointed to a picture of one and asked what it was. Now that I know storytime is on Thursday mornings, we might have to make it a date each week.

Joey's bringing home Momma Goldberg's for lunch so I'm thinking we'll take a nap after lunch and then go to the park to swing. I love it when the house is clean, dishes and laundry are done and those pesky little to dos are finished. The day is ours to enjoy :)

25 Grocery Challenge

Here's what I got...
(1.70) lbs. baking potatoes
(1.25) lbs. apples
(1.83) lbs. grapes
(2.72) lbs. bananas
(1) bagged salad
(2) Softsoap hand soap
(4) Edge shave gel
(3) Pam cooking spray
(2) Kellogg's Crunchy Nut cereal
(1) 1/2 gallon milk
(1) box Nabisco animal crackers (Free)
(1) Jennie O turkey bacon
(1) Publix cheese singles
(5) Juicy Juice 64 oz.
(1) Glass Plus cleaner
(1) Pepperige Farm bread

Total before sales and coupons : $76.94
Total after sales and coupons : $30.69

This week I splurged on turkey bacon and cheese singles, neither of which were on sale or had a coupon, but I needed cheese and I've been craving turkey bacon for a week. I did have two $1 off coupons for fruit, but it was still $7 of my budget. I see now why the kids in these poor counties I visit are so overweight. Those parents are broke and fresh fruit and vegetables are expensive! I only buy enough fruits and veggies for a family of 3 (we don't eat a lot of vegetables) and it usually takes up about 40% of my budget.

This week we're having...
Chicken and rice casserole
Breakfast pizza and cheese grits casserole (I miscalculated dinners last week. Joey went out of town so I didn't make this)
Grilled chicken, broccoli and mashed potatoes
Leftovers

Happy Couponing!

Facebook Saves the Day!

Some of you may have seen a post on my Facebook profile about a deal from Groupon for a 16 x 20 canvas print for $45 including tax and shipping. It was an awesome deal. The least expensive one I have found was $89.99 not including tax and shipping. The day the deal came out I bought 2 of them so I could hang them on either side of my dining room buffet. Unfortunately, one of the pictures I sent them to put on canvas wouldn't fit right as a 16 x 20 so they made it a 16 x 24. They did email me, but it was one of those emails where you can't respond and I got the email late at night so I couldn't contact them to say don't do that because I want to hang them side by side so they need to be the same size. So here's what I got...



They are beautiful and I am so pleased with them, but I can't hang them side by side. I was so upset. Today I found Canvas on Demand on Facebook and commented on their wall asking if there were any Groupons and there was one for Ocala, FL!!! Yay!!!!! I was thrilled!!! So I ordered 1 more and all is well. I can't wait to get them framed and on my wall. I'm so thankful for Facebook!

8 years ago today...

8 years ago today Joey and I went on our first date! It was February 22, 2003, a week after Valentine's Day. I actually don't remember where we went on our first date :( I'm going to say it's because I was so swept off my feet by his charm that I was completely unaware of what was going on around me ;) Happy First Date, Joey!

Just for fun, here are some old pics of us.

Such a shame...

I'm not the least bit surprised it happened. It's been a long time coming that someone would get so riled up about a stupid football game that they would snap and do something so destructive. It's such a shame. I hope no one retaliates. I really do. I hope somehow the trees will survive and I hope they catch the guy that did it and punish him. The person who poisoned the trees is delusional, angry and obviously has nothing to lose. He knew it was a crime and he said he didn't care. When a person reaches that point he is a danger to society. What was done to the trees is terrible. I feel bad that it has come to this. Those trees are beautiful, historic living things that have been poisoned in hopes that they will die, all in the name of football. Al from Dadeville poisoned those trees because he was pissed that Auburn won the Iron Bowl. Simple as that. He doesn't give a crap about Bear Bryant. Bear Bryant probably rolled over in his grave when he heard Al say he did it because people were celebrating Bear Bryant's death in Toomer's Corner. Puh-lease!

To me the bigger picture is what's behind the act. Here is a simple fact. Football is a game. That's why it's called a football game. The dictionary defines game as a competitive activity involving skill, chance, or endurance on the part of two or more persons who play according to a set of rules, usually for their own amusement or for that of spectators. A lot of people are commenting that the rivalry has gotten out of hand. I agree, it's not fun anymore. It's not about the sport or the skill required to play football, it's not about the hours of practice , the dedication, the dream, the discipline, the tradition or any of that good stuff that comes from being involved in team sports.

Let's back up to this past football season when I wished football would just go away because I was sick of all the insanity surrounding the sport. The people who play college football are usually ages 18-24. They are kids. Wishing or hoping that they will get hurt, fail or make a mistake or bad decision just because they don't play for your team is SICK! Tim Tebow comes to mind. We worship these college players who have been in jail, do drugs, cheat and lie, etc., but we make fun of Tebow who cried after a game because he had worked so hard to achieve a goal and came up short in the end. I don't mean to offend anyone, but if you found that amusing you need help. People treat these kids like they are seasoned professionals who can deal with the ridicule. They aren't. Can you imagine what it would feel like to have so many people hate you when they don't even know you? That cannot be good for the psyche. Don't even get me started on the whole Cam Newton thing. I have never seen more effort to bring down a human being in my life. Geez! He's a college football player not the President. If Auburn hadn't been a winning team, no one would have cared about the computers or what his dad supposedly did. Players on other teams have done much worse. It was part of a great American tradition of bringing down whoever is on top and this year Auburn was on top. Next year, someone else will be on top and those people will be scrutinized, interrogated and hated. I don't know what can be done to cool the fans down, but maybe this incident will help open people's eyes. We have the nerve to say how insane it is for people in other countries to riot in the streets, but at least they are rioting for important issues. We are hating on each other because a group of men ran across a line with a ball more times than another group of men. Pathetic. I think, for spectators, football is meant for entertainment. I think it presents an opportunity to get together with friends and hang out. It's fun to wear your team's colors and cheer for them. I think it's great to have a team you believe in and support them in any way you can, but football is way to high on some people's priority list. Why do people like to do that? I don't get it and I'm glad I never will. Just because you love your team doesn't mean you have to hate other teams. Just love your team and let that be the end of it. Oh and world peace ;)

I'm curious...am I the only one who blocked friends from my newsfeed for being obnoxious during football season??? What's sad is that those people I blocked have stayed blocked because I haven't missed them (there was even an Auburn fan in there). Sorry folks, I just want to see pictures of my friends babies, birthday parties, vacations and funny status updates. I don't give a crap about your nasty football smack talk.

Your order has shipped! (List update)

I've gotten several "Your order has shipped" emails in the last couple days. Yay! On the way to my house...a rug, a chandelier and 2 canvas prints. Everything is for the dining room. I am so ready for this room to be done so I can move on to the next. All I have left to do is get the dining room chairs recovered. The March 1st deadline for this room is lookin' really good :)

I don't even want to update everyone on how the running is going because it's not going great. Yesterday I ran a new route, but I got off track because it had so many turns so I didn't run as far as I was supposed too. The 10K is in less than 3 weeks and I'm only up to 3.5 miles. Ummmm...this should be interesting. I'm thinking I'll run 5 miles and walk 1.2. It kind of sucks, but I don't know what else to do. The weather made it impossible (and insane) to run outside every other day the last month or so. I'm not giving up. I'm going to try to run 4 miles on Sunday and then 5 miles the next Sunday and then just hope my adrenaline will kick in the last mile at the 10K.

The mission trip, the non-beach trip and getting pregnant are on the back burner for now. No updates there.

In other news, I have signed Finley up for Mother's Morning Out! I'm really excited for her. I know she will love it and I'm excited to see how much she learns from other kids and adults. I'm ready for the good and the bad ;) She starts August 15th and she'll go two 1/2 days a week. It's about time considering in my very first blog post (October 2009) I talked about doing this. Also in August, I'm going to start taking care of a friend's baby two days a week when she goes back to work. I'm so excited!!! Taking care of a newborn again will be so fun, especially since I get to go home and get a full night's sleep afterwards ;)

Finley is asleep in the floor as we speak. She must have sensed how boring this blog post is.

25 Grocery Challenge

Here's what I got...
(1) bagged salad
(2) Kellogg's Frosted Flakes
(1) Betty Crocker brownie mix (FREE)
(1) box animal crackers (FREE)
(3) boxes Green Giant frozen vegetables (FREE)
(1) carton eggs
(1) Progresso bread crumbs
(1) Publix Cocoa Butter (FREE)
(1) Half gallon of milk
(2) Pillsbury crescent rolls
(1) Publix alcohol (FREE)
(1) Publix hand sanitizer(FREE)
(6) jars Hunt's tomato sauce
(8) cans Green Giant vegetables
(1) package Sargento shredded cheese
(1) Mott's Apple Juice
(4) cartons Yoplait yogurt
2.43lbs. oranges
2.95 lbs. bananas

Total before sales and coupons: $77.35
Total after sales and coupons: $27.69

Lots of free stuff compliments of Publix Baby Club!!! They also send out coupons for $1 off of produce, meat and dairy products. If you haven't signed up, you should :)

This week we're having...
Spaghetti and garlic bread
Meatloaf and mashed potatoes
Breakfast pizza and cheese grits casserole
Black bean chili and hoe cakes
Leftovers (I think I'll designate one night a week for leftovers since we usually end up doing that anyway)

Happy Couponing!

Valentine's Day surprise!

Joey texted me yesterday afternoon to say that Sally was coming over. Sally is Finley's baby-sitter so you know what that means...date night!!! Yay!!! We went to Tommy's Pizza (the BBQ chicken pizza is so good) then we hit up this arcade/pool hall/bowling alley for some ski-ball and cosmic bowling. We topped it off with some browsing in Barnes & Noble and ice cream. Joey even gave me a piggyback ride to the car because my feet hurt. How romantic! It was the best Valentine's Day ever!!! Thank you Joey!!!! I love you on Valentine's Day and every day in between :)

I have to give shout out to Sally who not only cleaned up Finley's bedroom and the playroom, but unloaded the dishwasher. Unloading the dishwasher is the most dreaded household chore in our house. Thank you Sally!!!

This picture proves it...I need a spray tan NOW!

Happy Valentine's Day!

We had some friends over to play and decorate cookies to celebrate Valentine's Day. We had a great time! We ate yummy sugar cookies and chocolate covered strawberries. The result? Sugary, sprinkled, chocolate covered kids. Happy Valentine's Day!!!


The whole gang


Sugar high


Finley's Valentine's basket

I heart CVS!

Here's what I got...
(3) 12pk. Diet Cokes
(2) 27ct. Huggies diapers
(2) Listerine Zero mouthwash
(2) tubes of Colgate toothpaste
(2) sticks of Lady Speed Stick deoderant
(4) bottles of Aussie shampoo and conditioner

Total before sales, coupons and ECBs: $88.79
Total after sales, coupons and ECBs: $27.32 (I have $4 ECBs to use next time)

I saved 69%!

The best deals were toothpaste (free), diapers ($4.32/pack and I got $4 ECBs) and deoderant (.49 each)

I HEART CVS!!!!

It's warm and sunny here in Huntsville so I'm going to run. I'm going to try to run 4 miles. If I can do it, I will feel so much better about the 10K that will be here in 3 weeks!!!!

What can $195 get you?

All of this...






I went to Goodwill today to donate some stuff and decided to go inside and see if they had any furniture. I hit the motherload! I got two of the yellow chairs, a couch and chair set, and a wingback chair and ottoman! Even with the cost of recovering it will be less than buying new. I'm excited and scared about the end result. I'll post pics once they are done. The fabric hunt begins again! Wish me luck!

Animal sounds

Here is Finley doing her animal sounds. Be sure to listen when she says "frog". Let's just hope she never sees a frog when we are out in public :)

25 Grocery Challenge

Here's what I got...
(5) packages Betty Crocker cookie mix
(6) boxes Zatarain's Jambalaya mix
(1) 1/2 gallon milk
(2) tubs Smart Balance butter
(2) packages Hebrew beef franks
(1) bag Rold Gold pretzel sticks
(1) package Hillshire Farm smoked sausage
(1) package of strawberries
(1) head of lettuce
(1.17lbs.) apples
(2.22 lbs.) baking potatoes

Total before sales and coupons: $63.12
Total after sales and coupons: $28.45

The Zatarain's mix was a great deal at .48 a box. We love jambalaya!!! This will last us about 6 months. Sadly, I haven't seen the smoked sausage I use for the jambalaya on sale in a long time so I had to pay full price today because I really want to make it this week. Booo!!! Hopefully, it will go on sale sometime this month or next.

This week we're having...
Jambalaya and cornbread muffins
Grilled chicken, baked potatoes and salad
Hamburgers and hashbrown casserole
Breakfast for supper
We never eat all the jambalaya so we'll probably have leftovers.

Happy Couponing!!!

Vote for Finley!!!

C'mon friends...you know how awesome it is to score free clothes for your kids:) I entered Finley in the Castles & Crowns Kissy Face contest. To vote for her picture, go to Castles & Crowns, Inc. Facebook page and "like" them. Then go to their photo albums and Finley's picture is one of the last ones in the Kissy Face contest album. Comment or "like" her picture to vote. Thanks!!!

Viva Las Vegas!

Joey is home from Vegas! Yay! He even brought presents...



Who knew Big Bird, Elmo and Cookie Monster were such rockstars :)

Some random stuff...

- Today Finley and I hosted playgroup at our house. It was a lot of fun and all the kids played well together. After everyone left, I went to First United Methodist church to put Finley on the waiting list for the fall half day program. The director was so nice, the place was clean, the kids looked happy and best of all was the security. The child care is in a separate building from the church. They have a camera at the front door and someone has to buzz you in. Chef Jeff cooks the kids meals and he was wearing an Auburn shirt and hat so you know he's a good guy ;) The place is 6 minutes from my house which is awesome! I really hope they have a spot for her. I have two other options and they are both great, so if it doesn't work out it will be fine. It's a bit nerve-wracking trying to find a place because you always want the very best for your child :)

-Finley's hair is getting really long and I love it! We've been playing beauty shop.



-I gave up on trying to find fabric for curtain panels. My MIL offered to make them, but I went to 5 or 6 different fabric stores in 3 cities and could not find what I was looking for. Finally, I came across something I think will work. I ordered them tonight and I'm really hoping I won't be returning them.



-The weather HAS to cooperate this week because I have got to get back on track with my 10K training. Please let it be at least 50 degrees this week!!!!

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

I'm beginning to see a pattern.

Top 10...

Every once in a while Joey has to travel for work. Now, when I say he has to travel "for work", what I really mean is he has to take his customers on really fun trips to Las Vegas where they are doing anything but work...trust me ;) It's not much fun when the husband goes out of town, but being the positive person I am I decided to make a list.

10 Good Things About Joey Being Out Of Town.

1. There is a lot less laundry. Joey averages 3 outfits a day. I'll be honest, if Finley and I don't go anywhere we wear our pajamas all day long.
2. No fighting over the laptop. We only have one laptop for personal use and we are always reluctantly handing it over to one another.
3. No one goes behind me and moves the thermostat from 70 to 68. I can feel the difference.
4. I don't feel the need to cook dinner. It's cheaper to eat out if only one person is eating, right?
5. Less dishes. See #4.
6. I can watch A Walk To Remember or The Man in the Moon and not get made fun of for crying my eyes out.
7. I don't have to hear the ESPN voices.
8. The dirty clothes actually make it into the hamper instead of being on the floor right next to the hamper.
9. The bedroom television is always on the channel that plays Golden Girls episodes non-stop.
10. "ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER" :)

and just so Joey knows how much I missed him...

10 Worst Things About Joey Going Out Of Town.

1. I have to watch Jersey Shore alone
2. I have to take the trash out to the big garbage can myself.
3. I don't laugh as much.
4. Sometimes I get skeered at night.
5. No lunch dates.
6. Telling your husband about your day over the phone isn't the same as telling him in person. I never remember everything I had to tell him.
7. There's no one to play "not it" with when Finley has a dirty diaper.
8. No back-rubs, no foot-rubs and no one to tickle my arms.
9. No one puts stuffed animals on the ceiling fan blades in Finley's room so they fly off and scare the bejesus out of whoever turns on the fan. It's actually really funny :)
10. He is my other half and without him I don't feel whole :(

$25 Grocery Challenge

Here's what I got...
(2) packages Kraft shredded cheese
(2) boxes Wheat Thins
(1) package Kraft cheese singles
(2) Reese's peanut butter cups (Finding a B1G1 coupon for these=pure joy)
(1) package pita bread
(6) 6 oz. cups Dannon yogurt
(2) cans Campbell's Great for Cooking soups
(1) Marzetti's veggie dip
(1) canister Planter's peanuts (I had forgotten how good honey roasted peanuts are)
(2) jars Pace salsa
(1) package baby carrots
(1) 1/2 gallon milk
(1) 16 oz. carton of sour cream
(2) cartons of hummus
(1) loaf Publix bread
3 lbs. of bananas
2 lbs. grapes

Total before sales and coupons: $63.75
Total after sales and coupons: $ 32.31

Not a great week for savings for me, but I got a lot of yummy snacks. Since Finley has sworn off milk we are eating a lot of yogurt and cheese, so it was good to get some dairy deals this week. I'm going to try not to eat both the Reese's cups today...oh, who am I kidding, they'll be gone by lunchtime :)

This week we're having...
Leftover chili and cornbread
Chicken tetrazzini
Red beans and rice
The rest of the meals will be a combination of restaurant gift cards, leftovers and eating at other people's houses. Yay!

Happy Couponing!!!