The Grocery Game

I need to get back to cutting coupons and shopping more wisely. I used to save so much money by taking the extra time cutting and organizing my coupons.

I found a great website (thegrocerygame.com) a few years ago and it has helped me so much when it comes to coupon shopping. It's a great tool to help find the "rock bottom" prices on hundreds of products each week and match them up with manufacturers' coupons for the best possible savings at your local supermarket. She makes coupon shopping so easy. And it's amazing how much you can save.

I really had to change my way of thinking though when it came to grocery shopping. There are basically two ways we spend money on groceries: "Stockpiling," and "Need" shopping. By stockpiling items you will eventually need, you don't have to overpay when you do need it. It's basically thinking ahead in terms of shopping. When you "need" shop, you only buy those items you need at the moment or for that particular week. Because it's an immediate need, you will pay whatever price the supermarket is offering, thus grossly overpaying. The fee is minimal compared to the savings.

While it can be a bit of a chore - the reward comes when you walk out saving over $100! I've just motivated myself to get cutting and start saving again!

What He Got

I've mentioned a few times how much I loooove my Christmas gift from J. So what did I get him?? He had mentioned a few times how much he wanted to have our "speeches" from our wedding framed - so I did. We saved the actual papers we read from at our wedding and I'm so glad we did. It turned out very nice. And we was so happy with it.

We both decided to write something nice to say to each other at our wedding. We had decided this months in advance of the wedding but I could never figure out what exactly I wanted to say. Until I was talking with one of my best friends about a list we had made years ago when we worked together. This list came from this book. And then I knew what I would say to him.We were given a list of characteristics we would want in a mate and were to put them in the order of importance to us. My friend and I worked and worked on our "lists" until we perfected them based on what each of us wanted in a person. That was 15 years ago that I made that list and have had it ever since. I've kept it as a reminder of what I want in a soul mate and not to settle for anything less than what I was looking for.

I told him that I no longer needed my list - that I had indeed found my soul mate and that my search was over when I found him. (awwwww - corny I know).

His words were beautiful and brought me to tears.

So now we have them framed and hanging in our room as a reminder of what we said to each other that day. A day I will not forget. : )

What I Did This Weekend

This weekend was filled with fun and not so fun and not even close to fun...

Fun - Buddy started basketball. He's played soccer and baseball for many years but this was his first time at basketball. It was absolutely the cutest thing ever (at least I thought so). Many of the kids have never played basketball and an official game for that matter. I loved watching him play. Sadly, the teams were not evenly matched up and we lost by quite a bit - at one time the score was 18 to 1 (us having the "1).

Regardless of the score - Buddy still had a good time and I think he won't mind all the running at practice anymore now that he got a taste of what the game is really like. He was only one of the kids to shoot AND make two free throws. I was so proud!

Not so fun - I took down and put away all the Christmas decorations. I love decorating my Christmas tree but because I have so many ornaments - it makes putting everything away a long and tedious job.

Duncan helped....

Not Even Close to Fun - we are in an older house and the plumbing is terrible. This weekend the two bathroom sinks wouldn't drain. We had the plumber out twice without any luck. So today they are coming back out to replace piping. So not fun. We have been without sinks for two days. We have to brush our teeth in the kitchen sink - buddy commented that we are living "like hobos"...

Fun - Daughter found out that she landed her first job. Yay!!! I'm so excited for her. She has been wanting to work as a hostess at a popular steakhouse where we live and found out yesterday she got the job! So happy for her!

Not so Fun - Daughter's first day of work is today and they require the employees to wear Hawaiian shirts. We found out last night at 5:00. So we split up and went on the hunt for a Hawaiian shirt in January... in the pouring rain. Not an easy task but we found one at the men's department of Macy's.

Not Even Close to Fun - part of my search was a trip to Ross Dress for Less. Did I mention it was pouring rain???

Weeeee!

For Christmas Buddy asked for a Wii from Santa. Being the awesome boy that he is, he got it! We have been playing that non-stop since Christmas day.

Here is Buddy helping my dad bowl on Christmas Morning. Too cute!

I've had so much fun but realized out of shape I am. For days my shoulder hurt from playing tennis. And then my lower back hurt from boxing. I've had to take a break.

I'm really wanting to get Guitar Heroes for the Wii and also American Idol and Dancing with the Stars.

I'm in love with someone else....

I met him on Christmas morning. My love for him took me by surprise because I never thought I could fall in love so quickly. It took only seconds and I was hooked. I'm embarrassed to say I might even be obsessive and possessive with him. Every time I see him move around the house I'm in awe and fall in love all over again. He's so helpful and is a neat freak like me. He doesn't mind picking up after others. He's smart, sleek and handsome.

Surprisingly, J is the one that introduced us. He knew I was in love the minute I laid eyes on him. He sees the way I look at "him" - he understands and can not deny it.

My family can not understand my infatuation with him and I see them roll their eyes every time I remark how wonderful he is or how much he has changed my life. I think the only one that understands is my mom. She too is in love with him and wishes he were hers.

I'd like to introduce you to..... my Roomba.

He's amazing!!!!

.... I've just scared myself with this post. It's sad but oh so true. I love my Roomba!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!! part 1

We had a wonderful Christmas and a very quiet New Year's Eve. Dad arrived the Saturday before Christmas so we had a couple days to visit before the mad rush of Christmas hit. It was great! Have I mentioned that I love my dad?

I was proud that I finished all my shopping and wrapping on the 23rd! Yes, I'm one of THOSE. I don't care - I love the hustle and bustle. I seem to do better under pressure. My mom and I hit the mall and finished our shopping just in the Nick (get it? St. Nick?) of time....

We had a house full Christmas Eve. Great food, great company, a great time. Until I burned my thumb on a stupid votive. I didn't realize that the wick was right next to the glass and I picked it up burning the crap out of my thumb. I can usually tolerate pain pretty good - until I get burned or am nauseous. THEN, I'm a huge and I mean HUGE baby. I spent the rest of the night soaking my finger in water and holding a cold pack to it. I even cried. I told you I was a big fat baby! A blister soon appeared. So gross.

I tried not to let that damper my spirits but sadly it did. It's hard to be a great hostess while soaking your thumb. I think the pain finally stopped well after midnight while we were *ahem* Santa was wrapping stocking stuffers. This has always been our traditions (one of a thousand) to stay up and wrap stocking stuffers. This year I posed the idea to Sister to maybe wrap them the night before Christmas Eve. "But that's our tradition" she whined... so we planned to stay up and do them again as we have every year. But this year we had 5 extra stockings to stuff and I had a flippin' burned thumb (try wrapping one handed) and my poor sister got a bad migraine. She has to take medication every day to keep them under control but every once in a while one will sneak up on her and take her out. My poor sister was wrapping presents in between running to the bathroom and laying down. Needless to say - we have both decided that we will now change our tradition to wrapping on Christmas Eve Eve.

We finally finished around .....3:00AM!!!!!!! And was back up at 6:30 to see what Santa had brought. We always make quite a production out of this. While grandparents, aunts, and uncles wait at the end of the hall the kids (daughter is not really into this at 16 - but she is a trooper for her brother's sake) come in to see what Santa has brought.

We all had a wonderful time opening presents. J was thrilled with his electric drill and other tools. And me... well, it was love at first sight! (please excuse the scary, no makeup, only had 3 hours of sleep picture) I got my wonderful Kitchen Aid mixer. I love her - she's so pretty and helpful. I adore her.

I was blessed to get another wonderful gift.... I have decided that will get a post of it's own.

Partial Christmas Post

I have so much catching up to do - but most of my pictures are at home so I'll have to wait and post those later.


Christmas was awesome - I was so happy to have my dad in town. I'm like a little girl when it comes to my dad. He's so great.


Every year we try to come up with fun and exciting and different Christmas presents for him. He's got every gadget known to man but doesn't want to use them for fear they will be stolen or get broke. We buy him clothes but I know he's got a closet full with tags because he doesn't want to ruin them.... So this year we decided to go down to the beach and take pictures of us. He loved them.
My sister, brother and I
Sister
Me
Buddy
And a beautiful sunset to end the day.