Kindle Book Review: Night Road

What can I say about Night Road? It was wonderful, but only read it if you're in the mood for a good cry...actually only read it if you're in the mood to cry the whole way through. It was so good, but very sad. There is a happy ending so don't let me discourage you. I really like Kristin Hannah. She is the author of Firefly Lane, the book I read last month and LOVED! Read them both! You'll be glad you did!

I stole this summary from a blog because I'm terrible at summarizing. I always seem to say too much.

"Night Road is the story of Lexi, a former foster kid, who moves in with her aunt and befriends fellow weirdo Mia. Subsequently, Mia’s family, including twin brother Zach, mom Jude, and dad Miles take Lexi in as their own child, and Zach and Lexi fall in love. Life is great, until one night toward the end of their senior year, when there’s a terrible accident, and everything that the Farraday family and Lexi had built together is shattered."

Lately...

This week we met Stacy, Riley and Payton at McDonald's in Huntsville for lunch. Her sister lives here and I finally got to meet her after months of emails back and forth about how we should meet. She just had a baby so she's been a little busy ;)Hopefully, we can get together this summer. Finley had fun with Riley and Payton. It was cute how the girls hovered over the table like they were gossiping ;)



We also had dinner at The Harbucks house this week. It was fun as always. Finley tried on Ryan's work boots. She's thinking about a career in construction, but wanted to make sure she could pull off steel toed work boots.



We finally got the car washed. Finley liked watching the cars go through and looking at all the treats in the vending machine. We decided on M & M's and sat outside to eat them while they cleaned out our car. They melted in our hand in about 5 seconds. The sweltering heat is already here!



I hope everyone has a wonderful and relaxing Memorial Day weekend!!!

What 25 Grocery Challenge?

There were some really good deals this week and some not so good deals this week. I took advantage of both :( I'm finding it hard to stay at $25 a week lately. Quantities are my problem. I don't seem to have as many coupons as I used to and there aren't as many good deals in each ad as there used to be. I see all these coupons on southernsavers and they aren't in my paper or Birmingham's paper. It is so frustrating! Maybe it's just me? I have a theory that those Extreme Couponing people have gotten the attention of national grocery store chains and then those grocery store higher-ups have conspired with the coupon insert people to make the deals not as good so people will give up on couponing. I need someone in Atlanta to send me their inserts. Apparently, they get all the good coupons.



Here's what I got...
(1) box Huggies diapers (Hopefully, not many more of these purchases!)($14.99)
(2) bags Texas Toast croutons (FREE)
(1) Lawry's marinade (.50)
(3) boxes Duncan Hines brownie mix (.12 for all 3!)
(1) lb. pork chops
(4.33) lbs. Boston butt (total for both meats was $16.87 and I have an $8 rebate)
(4) bottles All laundry detergent($1.75 per bottle)
(1) box Wheat Thins
(1) box Nilla Wafers Minis
(1) bottle Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce
(1) bottle Publix syrup
(1) block Velveeta cheese
(1) bottle Kraft ranch dressing
(1) tub Sabra hummus
(1) Fresh Express Chicken Caesar salad kit
(1.52) lbs. bananas
(1) box Raisin Bran Crunch
(1) package Toufayan pita bread
(1.88) lbs. apples
(1) 12 pack Diet Pepsi
(1) gallon Publix sweet tea

Total before sales and coupons: $136.99
Total after sales and coupons and my rebate: $79.84

This week we're having...

Grilled Hawaiian pork chops, rice and rolls
BBQ sandwiches with sweet potato fries
Crockpot chicken and yellow rice
Leftovers

Happy Couponing!!!

Finley's 2 year pictures

We had Finley's 2 year pictures done a few weeks ago by Angie at Angela Blake Photography. We went to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. She did an amazing job!!! I had so many favorites I had no choice but to purchase the CD. You can check out Angie's work at Angela Blake Photography on Facebook or at www.angelablakephotography.com.

Here are a few of my most favorites...






Now granted Angie is family, but I would still recommend her even if she weren't. She did a great job! I am so pleased with my pictures. She got them to me quickly and she was great with Finley who is rather challenging in the picture department.

Angie and Greg (my cousin) are expecting their first child!!! Yay!!! We are dying to find out what she's having. I'm having a little bit of boy fever myself, but of course we'll love "it" no matter what ;)

Big Sister!!!

Haha! Gotcha ;)

On Tuesday Finley and I drove to Bham to visit my friend Tiffany and her daughter Taylen. We had a great time catching up and letting the girls play. We are so excited that Taylen is going to be a BIG SISTER!!! Luke will be here on Tuesday and we can't wait to meet him!!!

25 Grocery Challenge: Rebuilding

I'm slowly rebuilding my freezer stockpile and filling up my fridge again after the storms. I have to pay full price every once in a while to get something I need or want now. There were some good deals this week so that helped. Unfortunately, my Publix didn't have any okra or eggplant for some reason. I was going to ask about it, but Finley was getting antsy so I'll check back.

Here's what I got...



(2) Wishbone salad dressings (.36/each)
(1/2) gallon Publix milk (FULL PRICE)
(1) package of Chinet dinner napkins (.07)
(2) boxes of Ziploc sandwich bags (.85/each)
(2) ears of corn
(1.82) lbs. of bananas
(1) bottle of Juicy Juice
(1) 8 pk. boxed Juicy Juice
(1) 2L Pepsi Max (FREE)
(1) 2L Sierra Mist (FREE)
(1) bag Domino's sugar
(4) boxes Ronzoni pasta (.76/each)
(2) bags of Sunchips
(1) bag Tostitos
(1) Bic Multi-purpose lighter
(1) loaf Nature's Own bread
(2) boxes Rice Krispies cereal
(1) box Fruit Loops cereal
(1) package Huggies Little Swimmers
(2) shakers of Weber's Seasonings (.69.each)
(1) Ball Park beef franks
(1) bag Publix baby carrots (FULL PRICE)
(1) package Perdue chicken breasts
(2) boxes Orville Redenbacher popcorn
(2) sticks of Right Guard deoderant
(1) package Publix American cheese singles (FULL PRICE)
(1) package Butterball turkey bacon
(2) bags Pepperidge Farm Montauk cookies
(1) 6 pk. Propel Zero water (.99)
(1) package of Publix marshmallows (for Rice Krispy Treats!)(FULL PRICE)

Total before sales and coupons: $131.03
Total after sales and coupons: $59.05

I also had a $3 off $30 purchase Publix coupon AND a sweet friend surprised me with a $25 Publix gift card so I only paid $34.05 out of pocket this trip. Yay!!!

I have no idea what we're having this week. I'm feeling lazy in the meal planning area of my life this week. Probably burgers one night, a chicken dish one night and maybe BLTs. If they have okra when I go back I'm going to try to make okra fritters. They looked really good on Paula Deen's show the other day ;)

Happy Couponing!!!

Swimming in the rain

Saturday after the 5k we decided to go lay out by the pool and relax for the rest of the day. It rained off and on and the water was cold, but that didn't stop Finley from swimming until her teeth chattered and her lips were blue.

Finley and Daddy



Jumping to Ryan (or Rynan)



Thawing out

Potty Time!!!

We're working on it...



She has worn panties a few times and she loves them! I couldn't get her away from the mirror :)



I'm waiting for a few consecutive days when we don't have anywhere to be for her to wear them all day. Hopefully, the end of next week we can hang out at home and get this potty thing down, or at least she can get an understanding. Finley is a smart girl and I've come to realize that she can do anything she puts her mind too...she can also not do anything she puts her mind to, so we'll see if she decides to cooperate ;)

She has pooped in the potty twice so we made a big fuss with lots of jumping around and clapping. Her reward is a snack size Kit Kat :) The first time she did it I gave her a Kit Kat (we call it chocolate) as her reward and told her when she goes in the potty she can have chocolate. You can probably guess what happened soon after. She told me she had to poop, we ran to get on the potty and no sooner had her hiny hit the seat than she looked up at me and said "chocolate". She hasn't tee tee'd in the potty yet. She will tell me she has a dirty diaper and sometimes I can get her to the potty before it actually happens, but it's a work in progress. Wish us luck!

Music Moves Me 10k!

The music was supposed to move me 6.2 miles, but unfortunately I only made it 3 miles. After our successful Big Spring Road Race 10k, my friend Leighton and I were all fired up to do another one. We decided to take off a few weeks from running and then start training for the Music Moves Me 10k. Well...long story short, we slacked off on our training and my knee was really bothering me, so a few days before the race we changed our entry to run the 5k. We were surprised that although we haven't run since the 10k (2 months ago) we were able to run the 5k without stopping. Our time was 31 minutes. At mile 2 we thought we could make it under 30 minutes, but I guess we overestimated ourselves. We did get some free food, a t-shirt and some good exercise, though. I'm hobbling around my house today ;)

Team Harbro!!!

Supporting the Arts...

Last week I went to see Something Borrowed with my sister. It was really good! John Krasinki was so funny!!! I loved his one-liners. I read the book a few years ago and was so excited when I heard they were making a movie. It did not disappoint :) Read the book before you see it!



Last night I went to see Bridesmaids with Joey and another couple. It was HILARIOUS!!! I had mascara running down my face because I was laughing so hard I was crying!!! At one point during the movie I was laughing so hard I was snorting. Please go see it.



I just finished The Center of Everything by Laura Moriarty. I really liked it! I think it would be a good beach read :)It's about a girl who is coming of age, having a tough time at home and is in love with a boy who doesn't think of her in "that" way. The story doesn't end the way you think it will and the writer keeps you guessing so even though you've probably read something like it before, it's really different and inspiring. Highly recommended!



One more thing...I read The Help not too long ago and it was wonderful! Last night at Bridesmaids they showed a preview for the movie! Yay!!! Can't wait!!!

Playdate pics...

We haven't seen Katie and Abby since before the storms and we usually see them every week! We missed our friends! We met for a little while today and it was nice to get out of the house and catch up. Of course, we had Tommy's Pizza for lunch ;)

Fearsome Friday...

Since I missed Wordless Wednesday :( It is Friday the 13th after all.

Living room update

We painted the living room! I went with a charcoal gray. I'm glad it's done because painting is the worst!!!!! I'm thinking I might have to hire a professional next time. It looks really good as long as you don't look too closely at the trim ;)

This is the test patch I did.



and the finished product!

I'm in love!

You may remember these chairs I got from Goodwill. I think they were $45 for the pair (maybe $65), I can't really remember. Here is a reminder of what they looked like before...



Here they are in my living room after their transformation!



I'm in LOVE!!! I know what you're thinking...white? Doesn't she have a 2 year old? Yes, I do, but my white couch has made it unharmed for 9 months so I have hope for my chairs :) The truth is that this room is really only used when Joey and I watch Swamp People together and when we have company. Even then, everyone usually gravitates towards the kitchen anyway. I will buy a comfy, dark brown couch from Finley's playroom which is where we do our lounging around. That is definitely next on the purchase list.

The dining room is coming along too. I still want to get rid of the blinds, find something for the center of my table and get the furniture refinished, but all that can wait. You've come a long way baby ;)

Before...



Almost done!




I'm a long way from marking this task off my 2011 to do list, but I'm making progress. I have faith that at least 5 rooms in my house will be done by next January.

Happy Friday!!!

While we were out...

We had a good time in Birmingham while we were waiting for our power to be restored. We went on a lunch date with Melissa and Nick to The Depot restaurant in Helena and then let them play by the river. At one point Finley and Nick were holding hands, but I didn't have my camera. Shame on me! That afternoon, we went to Stacy's to play with Riley and Payton.



Saturday we went to Grammie's to play with Anna Grace and Drew. Then we went to Riley's birthday party.



We went to my sister's friend's house to visit and they had just gotten a new puppy. Finley had the best time with that puppy. I would love to get her one, but something is holding me back. What could it be? The mess, the house-training, the hair, the expense...now I remember ;) Anyway, she kept saying things like, sweet puppy, hold you puppy and where'd he go? It was really cute. I wish I had taken a video.




Saturday night we had dinner at Chuy's with Joey's parents, Drew and Anna Grace and my sister. We got a table outside in a corner. It was perfect! Finley was so good and we actually enjoyed our meal. Have I mentioned eating out with Finley is a no no? We just don't even go there. Afterwards, Joey and I went to Mountain Brook Creamery for dessert.

Sunday we got up, packed up and headed home. Joey cooked Ramen noodles on the gas grill and Finley helped Joey clean up the yard.




We are so glad to be home!!!

Grateful for small losses.

People lost possessions, homes, cars and even their lives in the tornadoes last week.



All we lost was our freezer stockpile. Easily rebuilt, at little cost. We're so thankful!!! I'm not going to say it didn't hurt to throw all that food out though ;)




Thankfully, we had no damage to our house or to ourselves in the storm. We lost power on Wednesday afternoon and it came back on yesterday evening. We've been in Birmingham since Thursday and decided to come back last night, power or no power, because Joey had to go to work today and we were ready to be home. We thought it would be tonight before the power came back on, but we were pleasantly surprised last night when everything started beeping and the air conditioner came on (best sound in the world). I hope all my fellow bloggers stayed safe during the storms!!!