Because it makes me smile…..

Couponing!! Yep, it’s the greatest thing and I am totally addicted!! I have been doing it a little over two years now, and the only thing I wished was that I had started it a long time ago. I love being able to stockpile things, and knowing that if/when I run out I have a spare one or two in the closet. I know a lot of people have watched the Extreme Couponing on TLC, and I am NO where near that crazy! Yes, I have binder; Yes, I take it with me just about everywhere; Yes, people stop me in the store and ask questions, but I am used to it. We have a pretty big pantry so I can usually fit a lot of my things in there, and I have 1 (small) hall closet that has a couple open shelves that I store the “stock pile.” Christian knows I coupon and the other day asked me if I was going to have a grocery store in our garage! So funny!! Since just about every person featured on the show have created stores in their basements, garage, living rooms and bedrooms. That’s just a little too crazy for me. I have gotten my mom and sister hooked, and they love it too. I make a list from the sale ad’s, gather my coupons and I am on my way. I do not go from store to store, I hit Kroger and Publix, and occasionally CVS. I can’t tell you the last time I went to Wal-mart. I go once a week, and depending on the prior week’s sale and what I have I can sometime’s skip a week and go every 2! I have cut our grocery bill in half, when once spending on average $550 a month to a nice average of $250-$275! It is so worth my time, and effort to save that kind of money!

I thought I would share my trip to Publix on Sunday. They were having a good sale on a few items, and with store coupons and manufacture coupons I did really good. Some of the things are not what I normally buy, but I needed them for our vacation this year. Buy now on sale…and save until I need it.

What did I buy??

2 Publix Sour Cream
2 Boxes Whole Fruit Frozen Bars
4 Packs of Solo Plastic Plates
2 Packs Vanity Fair Napkins (Free)
2 Packs Vanity Fair Large plates
2 Packs Vanity Fair small plates
4 Boxes assorted Ritz Crackers
2 Benadryl’s
2 Boxes of Band-aids
4 Bottle of Johnson and Johnson baby soap/bubble bath
2 Cans of Wet Ones antibacterial hand wipes

Total cost $86.41
Total Spent $29.97
Savings of $56.44

About 66% Savings!!

I think that kind of savings is worth the time spent….don’t you??

VBS..Take 2

I’m not really sure what happened to last week! Christian went to Vacation Bible School at my parents church, and between that, work, and my normal every day stuff the week just flew by! We would wake up, go to work, leave work at 4 pick up the kids, twice I went by my sister’s house to pick up my nephew Jadon for VBS, somehow eat and be up at the church by 6. It was non-stop every day. We made it though!

The bible school theme this year was “The Big Apple” in New York City! The kids had a great time, and learned a lot! Christian came home singing all the songs, and talking about all the things he learned. Friday evening was Family night, the kids sang all their songs from the week, and afterwards we had an homemade ice cream party! I just love homemade ice cream!!

Here are a couple of pictures from “The Big Apple” VBS!

Master Bedroom update!!

So if you remember back a few weeks ago I said I wanted to re-do our bedroom! I kind of had an idea of what I wanted, I just had to get Michael on board. Which was easier than I thought. I just told him he could buy a new TV and he was sold! It was up to me to decided on the rest. I figured I could do it no problem. Easier said than done.....I have the worst time picking out a paint color! I stood in Lowe's for about 10-15 minutes looking at paint colors trying to decided. I text Michael and said I couldn't do this. I guess picking out a color with out him, I was so scared I would pick a color he would hate. He told me the only thing he requested was NO BLUE! Which is fine by me! I just made the decision and had the paint mixed up before I could change my mind!!

I knew kind of the over all look I wanted, but also knew it would be a work in progress. So over Memorial weekend we started painting. Since our room was a dark brown-ish color we knew we would have to prim first and hopefully get away with one coat. I took of on Friday and after taking Christian to school we started with our first coat. Prime! While it dried we rode out to find new curtains. I knew I wanted white ones, so we headed to JC Penny to see what they had. Honestly I will never buy curtains from any other place other than there. I have gotten ones from other stores, and they do not compare to the quality of JC Penny. We walked in and were looking at the bedding. They had a set up of some bedding and it had white curtains. I walked over took one look and feel and that was it. They were the ones I wanted, plus I had a coupon.

We went back home and the walls were ready for the first coat of paint. I was a little scared putting it on the wall, because it looked a little blue. After a little time it moved from blueish to the gray color I wanted. I was so relieved! That night we ended up sleeping in the living room, and on Saturday morning I knew the walls had to be finished that day. I was not sleeping on the couch another night, and Michael was not sleeping on the floor! I'm not really sure why the idea didn't cross our minds before, but we have a guest room...with a bed. Hello!! Oh well! We ended up having to put a third coat of paint on the walls but I love how they turned out!

Sunday we went out, and Michael bought the TV I promised him, and I found an awesome mirror!! I found it at our TJ Maxx Home Goods store....I LOVE that store. They have the best stuff if you are decorating your house. I have always wanted a mirror that sits on the floor and leans on the wall. This mirror works perfect! It's a little over 7 feet tall and has a white distress look on the edging. And for $100 you can't beat that!

I bet you just can't wait to see it finished....I know the suspense is killing you?!?!

Father's Day 2011

We had a great Father's day! The boys and I woke up early and made Michael a yummy breakfast. Biscuits, sausage, eggs, grits , yum! We had a low key morning and relaxing afternoon. Christian made Michael a card and it was so cute. He wrote "Happy Father's Day" on the outside and drew a picture of Michael. On the inside it said, "you are the best daddy in the world, I love you, how old are you?" We just laughed!! It was so sweet, he did it all by himself and put a lot of time into it.

That afternoon we headed over to my parents for lunch-dinner. We grilled out steaks and chicken, and had veggies to go along with it. Then dessert was a yummy ice cream cake from Busters! Your can't go wrong with that!

I some how failed to take any pictures.

I am so excited I got to spend father's day with my dad! He is the best by far and I love him so much!

Michael is an awesome hubby, but more importantly a super dad to both boys! I love seeing him play with the boys, he sometimes becomes a kid himself. I love you hunny!

Happy Father's Day to both my guys!

Sports Camp

The church we have been attending lately had a sports camp last week. It's kind of their way of vacation bible school, so I knew I wanted Christian to attend. It was Monday thru Thursday from 6-8:30. I didn't pre-register him, so we left a little earlier on Monday so we would have time. I guess I kind of scared him by telling him that over 500 kids had already pre-registered. When we got in line, he saw a couple of boys from school and all the other kids. Then he started to panic! He was crying and saying he didn't want to stay. I couldn't leave him crying. So we left. I had a talk with him in the car and asked what was wrong. He told me he was shy and didn't want to meet all those people! He is not shy, and I told him he didn't need to meet every single person there. Just find a friend and hang out with him and if he met any new people it would be a plus! He said he would try again on Tuesday.

So Tuesday we tried it again. I filled out the registration form and told him to pick 2 things he wanted to participate in. Since it's a sports camp they had all different sports listed and you would be teamed up and play that particular sport. Obliviously they have a few other things listed just in case some kids were not into sports. We have never signed him up for any sports. One- he hasn't shown any interest in any one particular sport and two-if he is going to play a sport we want him to know the jist of it before hand. It's not an issues we push. Any-who, I gave him the list and told him to pick any 2 he wanted. I didn't care, if it was something he has never tried just do it. It's all just fun! He wanted large group games, which I think everyone participated in. Then he chose his two "sports"......and what did MY child pick???? Art and Science!!! I just laughed!! I didn't question it, and just said ok...let's go have fun! He found a boy from school and teamed up with him. I kissed him bye and I would pick him up later! The first day I picked him up-sweating, beat red, and all wound up!! He said "mom-I had a blast, and can't wait to come back tomorrow!" I knew he would love it!! He told me all about the experiments he preformed, and even wore goggles!! Too funny!

Thursday night was the big send-off! They didn't have a family night, but instead brought in a professional motorcyclist! Christian's word's were "he was awesome!" He had a huge ramp and did trips. Jumped over a bus, and everything! We waited in line for a picture and autograph and to check out his bike!

 

 

I'm so glad he had so much fun! I remember loving going to our churches vacation bible school, and I'm glad he is experiencing the same thing!

Stevie-Leigh and Kyle

Michael works for a great company and since he has been there forever he has formed some great relationships with the people he works with. Along with that I have also been able to form relationships with them as well. Stevie works with him, and we were so excited when her and Kyle got engaged! They met a few years back and not long afterwards he took a job in Japan for a year! Talk about a long distance relationship! Well he came back and their relationship grew and became engaged last year.

Last Sunday was their big day and I am so honored to have been there to witness the start of their lives! It was at a mansion in Old town Buford, and was absolutely beautiful! There were fresh flowers everywhere and all their engagement photos.

Stevie is a beautiful girl and seeing her in her dress made her look even more beautiful!!

Her family is from England and I loved hearing them talk and give their speeches. I could listen to them all day!



I was a little hesitant to attend since Michael was out of town that weekend, and I would be going alone, but I'm glad I did. I know so many people that work there and they are like a second family. It was an outside ceremony and it was HOT!! It started at 6 :30 and it seemed like it only lasted about 10 minutes. We ate inside, and the reaming part of the reception was outside under huge white tents. I'm not sure how long the party lasted but I left around 10.

They had a candy bar for the favors! Which I thought was a great idea! You picked up little boxes and filled them with a huge assortment of all kinds of candy. I thought it was a huge hit!!

Congratulations to Stevie and Kyle!!!

Summer=HOT!!

We live in the south, and with that comes very HOT summers. However we have been hitting mid to upper 90's for about 2-3 weeks now! We are still a week away from the first official day of summer, so it's gonna be a long, and steamy summer! Luckily my parents have a great pool in there neighborhood and we take any advantage to heading over there and letting the kids swim. A couple of Saturdays ago my sister and I planned on meeting up there and spending the day swimming. We pack lunches and snacks and headed out around 10ish.

Christian has become a great swimmer and no longer requires his life jacket. He's like a little fish.

Colin, I have figured out is going to be a handful around water this year. He sees Christian swimming and will try and do the same thing. He has NO fear, and would plant his face under the water in a second! There were a couple of times he would jump in and I wasn't always ready. The water didn't even bother him.

Jadon I bet by the end of summer will be swimming too!

Adelyn LOVES the water!