Coupons

It's about time I posted something with no picture...so here it is. I sat in the floor last night and pulled out all my coupons and matched them with items already on sale at Publix and Kroger this week. I felt disappointed in the paper this week, but I've realized that (as I think I've said before) the really good coupons must come only once a month, at the beginning of the month. I am confused about what to do with the coupons where the items never go on sale the entire month. Here is my plan regarding those coupons. I think I will use them at Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart seems to have the lowest prices without coupon/sale situations considered, so I'm thinking if the items aren't on sale anywhere else, I should just get them at Wal-Mart (where they're basically the cheapest) and use my coupons for them. Do you think this is a good idea?

I went to Publix last night (so I could get that 1 cent mystery item) and used my coupons for there for the week. I spent $14.08 and saved $13.07. Still not a pro, but I'm pleased with it. I have a few coupons to use for Kroger, but I will have to go later in the week.

I'm thinking about making some crock pot lasagna - let me just tell you - I used to love to try to make things in the crock pot when we first were married. Then, after the hurricane, something weird happened to me. I've ruined 2 crock pots. It's a bad feeling when you pull up in your garage and before you turn the car off and get out you can smell something burning/almost on fire. That is scary. Anyway, my mother-in-law gave me my current crock pot, and thank goodness, I haven't ruined it yet because it's a really nice one. It's one of those stainless steel longer ones though, and so I accidentally burn stuff in it because there's not enough food in there. Uh, the point is that I am trying crock pot lasagna again. When I first made it, it was pretty gross. I have a friend who's blog I read who made it the other day though and took a picture of it - it looked really good. She said the recipe was a success and posted it - I'll let you know...We have stuff like every night this week, so I may not be able to make it until the weekend...

We are taking pictures tonight with my friend/photographer, Joy, in Marietta Square. We haven't had any pictures taken of us since we were married almost 6 years ago now. I can't wait to take them and then get to see them!

Oh, and let me tell you something I hate. I LOVE cheesecake - chocolatey cheesecake is my favorite kind of dessert. One thing I hate about it though is that you cannot eat it the night you make it because it's not ready yet! So...last night, I really wanted some cheesecake. I made us a chocolate chip cheesecake, even though I knew we wouldn't be able to eat it last night....yet still, that frustrates me! It will be waiting for us tonight during American Idol!

Home Sweet Home - Part 2

A new week is beginning...we arrived home last night about 10pm. We thought we would get back earlier, but with spring break traffic coming back into town, we lost some time. It was tough to get up this morning, especially in really hard rain!

On Saturday morning, Mom, Krista, and I went together to Fort Walton so I could be measured for my bridesmaid dress. We stopped by Good Things Donuts, and I took some pictures! The lady in the third picture down is making Krista's donut fresh - a chocolate covered custard filled!

After filling myself with donuts (probably not a great idea before you go to be measured), we drove to Simply Elegant so I could try on my bridesmaid dress (the sample - which was way too big) and be measured. Krista was going to try on her dress for me (which I, of course, would NOT be posting on here) but they sold the sample so I couldn't see it live and in person!! I really liked my dress - especially after the lady put big safety pins in the back so I could actually walk around without holding it up. Krista did a good job picking them out. I'm excited about this wedding! Krista says I can wear my hair however I like - thoughts? Up? Down?

After being measured and Krista NOT getting to try on her dress for me, and having to deal with a very abrasive person who worked there (which I will not go into detail about), we headed to lunch. I really wanted to eat on the water. We tried Magnolia Grill (which is not on the water - but I really like!), but they were closed for lunch (uh, even though their door was open and a bunch of people were sitting out on the porch) and suggested we go to the Bay Cafe. I had an amber jack croissant, which was great - the view was beautiful, and I love how it smells out there! It was such a pretty day! We had a great time spending a few hours together - just us girls.

Saturday afternoon we spent with Landon's family at our nephew's birthday party - he turned 5! Sunday, Landon preached at New Harmony, his home church, and he did a fantastic job. Mom and Dad had the family at their house for Easter, so we had 20 people! It was a very busy weekend - we have to get home to get some rest!!

BTW, Landon stopped for me when we got home so I could get a newspaper and check out my COUPONS! I think they may only put those really good coupons in the paper at the beginning of each month. Publix had some new coupon situation I had never seen - kind of looked like an Aldi ad...anyway, I'll be checking out my coupon business when I get home tonight - I'm so excited about it!

Home Sweet Home! - Part I

We arrived home yesterday afternoon just in time for lunch with Dad (at Mia's) and to go watch baseball practice for our nephews.

This morning we drove to Destin and walked around on the beach for a few minutes - although the beach is not my favorite, our beach is really beautiful, and I think it's probably really exfoliating for my feet - and goodness knows they need it...

After eating breakfast at our favorite Good Things Donuts, we were going to eat lunch on the water at a hole in the wall place called Nick's. Well, we arrived and it looked crazy - more like a gas station - so we could not eat there. The picture below is a crazy place called the Freeport Cafe where Landon used to eat lunch a lot when he worked in Destin. This place would never have an acceptable health rating and made Landon sick on numerous occasions....Look at it below...I just can't understand why...

So...we ended up eating with Dad again back in Crestview at another one of my favorite places, Desi's. Do not ever try to use the free 411 to find the phone number to Desi's - just trust me and pay the money - unless you want to find some wine bars. For some reason although I was saying "Desi's" over and over, it kept only calling out wine bars to me. Did not need the info. Anyway, my favorite desserts were there today - chocolate cake AND bread pudding! It was great!

I decided last night to see if I could get my wedding dress on last night. Although I still couldn't breathe in all the way with it zipped up, (just like it was on my actual wedding day) it still fit! It was pretty fun to put it back on. I should think of another time I could wear it again. Anyway, here's my picture in it - ha!

Tomorrow I'm being fitted for my bridesmaid dress for Krista's wedding. I am wearing proper undergarments for this fitting. I'll update later for part two of the trip - right now I have to go make a sand mountain pound cake.

Amish Bread Making

I'm finished with the bread! Today was Day 10, and I made the bread early this morning. I made two loaves and did 4 starters just like the instructions told me to do. Personally, I have been liking cooking more, but the bread thing is not worth it to me. It's good - tastes like cinnamon - yum, but it's not worth it. I would much rather eat a piece of chocolate chip cheesecake than waste those calories on a piece of bread. Now, don't get me wrong - the bread is very good - it's crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside - and tastes like cinnamon. It's pretty delicious. And after "squeezing the bag" for like a million days, it should be! Here are my pictures!

COUPONS

Okay, so I just started trying to use coupons for the first time, and I am very excited about it. Last night I went to Publix and only bought items I had coupons for AND that were on sale this week at Publix - like a double discount! I paid $14.47 for what I bought, and I saved $15.50 - yippee! I'd say for my first try, this is good!! If you have coupon tips for me, leave them!! When I got to the checkout, I was trying to ask about this 1 cent mystery coupon thing, and I thought it was the first time they'd ever done that, and the bag boy said, "No, uh, we do this every week, and the sale item is always on a display by the door." HA - I had no idea. Then, I told the check out boy, "Look at all the coupons I have? Isn't it great?" I don't think he knew quite what to think of me. Anyway....success in small steps!!

Battle of the Sexes

Landon and I had kind of a weird weekend, but we had a great time with our discussion group from Sunday School on Saturday night. We played games and ate and had a great time laughing! We played Battle of the Sexes and Guesstures.

Landon told our class Sunday morning that this above picture was what happened to him when I innapropriately responded to him about something and punched him in the face....right...

I have three other posts I want to do that will be funny, I think - one about Landon's phone, one about some special bread I'm making, and shoot, I can't remember what the other one is right now. Oh well. We're going home later this week to visit family - this is great, but can be stressful! This will actually be the first Easter we haven't been in Woodstock since we moved here.

I am enjoying this whole blogging fun, but I do have one complaint. You cannot actually be totally real on here. I'm not saying you have to be fake, but I am saying you cannot just vomit your business about every single thing you want to on here (kind of like I thought I'd be able to do more of) because you just never know who is reading it. I'm trying to be as real as I can though - because I am not a faker, but just know, there are more things I'd like to say that I must keep to myself. Okay, I just had to get that out.

I'll try to do my other blog ideas soon...and remember what the third one was...

Easter Presentation & Krispy Kreme

Last night was fun! The Cobb Energy Centre was really neat, and the music was great. I knew almost all of the songs, and really enjoyed hearing Charles Billingsley. I have been very spoiled, though, at our own church because of how free I think the worship is there. While they were singing Revelation Song or God is Here or Unto the Lamb, I wanted to stand and raise my hands, just like I would have done and others would have been doing at my church. But, no one did this last night. They really did treat it like a concert more so than a church service. Landon reminded me that people genuinely worship a lot of different ways, and I know that. I just feel like since we've come here, the Father has really freed me up to worship Him in ways I would have been uncomfortable with before (I'm not saying I am charismatic and want to dance up and down the aisles). After being there last night, and hearing such great music and really wanting to do like I do at our church, I felt SO THANKFUL to be where we are!!! And, you know, really, it's my own stuff that I didn't lift my hands if that's what I wanted to do. I was afraid of what the people around me would think, or my own friends or husband sitting right beside me - and that can only be my own fault. The concert was great though, and we had a great time with Malissa and Winfield!!

After the presentation, Landon and I headed home. I thought we headed home, anyway. We were really headed to Krispy Kreme even though it was 10pm, and I had to work the next day :) Landon and I always have some issues over Krispy Kreme. The first time we went to Krispy Kreme together, we got the donuts, which were hot, and he stands by the table and opens the box and starts eating them, seems like, as fast as he can. I am standing there like WHAT???? I'm like, "Excuse me, I have to get a milk, and a straw, and a fork and a napkin, and do they have any paper plates here?" So, we've only been there together a few times, but last night Landon was a little more patient with me - let me say again, a little. The doughnuts were delicious! Here are Krispy Kreme pictures...even though Landon's not really smiling in his, I have to post it anyway so you can see his custard filled donut.