Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Help! My Baby isn't a Baby Anymore!

Image and video hosting by TinyPicI was "googling" any antidotes there may be, to stop Bree from growing. I was watching her today, and just realizing that she really isn't a baby anymore. She's a toddler. She doesn't need me as much as she needed me, even six months ago. She is completely independent, and by nature, doesn't want my help with much. She's communicating with me through words now instead of cries and screams that at one point I had interpreted. When she's hungry, she says "I eats". When she's thirsty, she says "Juice". Sometimes I wish she would cry, just so I could pride myself in knowing what she wanted without any words. Now, the only time she cries is when she's upset, angry, or sad.

Parents usually have these moments on their child's birthday, but I'm having this moment a little sooner. It all started when I traded in the diaper bag for a mini-back pack, and traded in the sippy cup for a cup with a straw. I try to hold her as much as I can, because there will be a day when she won't even want me to touch her. It's almost time for potty training, and I can't believe how much I will miss changing her diaper. I won't miss how much diapers cost, but I will miss changing them.

I'm proud of the little girl she is becoming. She's beautiful, funny, and very sociable. I love her, and I love her toddler-ness. I do miss those baby coos and cahs though. Will I have another child? I haven't decided yet. At this moment, the answer is no. You can't keep having babies just to fulfill the loss you have when your child gets older. It's a sad/happy moment when you realize your child is getting older though. I'm excited for the future, but long for the past. Oh well, I guess there is no real medicine to stop your child from growing. From the moment we are born, we begin dying. It's sad, but true. I'm trying to enjoy every moment of her, because in a few months...she'll be different.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Coupon Savings Monday!!

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Alright guys, Coupon Savings Monday is back! This week was super exciting, because Bloom was having their triple coupon week! Here is a look at what I saved today:

Bloom
1. French's W. Sauce: 1.49 + .50 x 3 = 1.50 (Practically got this item for free)
2. All Laundry Detergent: 5.79 (b1g1) 2.90 a piece + .40 cent coupon x 2 = 1.70
3. Breyers Yogurt Crunch: 2.79 + .74 x 3 = .54
4. Luzianne Family Size: 1.79(x2) + .60 x 6 = FREE

Total: 1.92
Total Savings: 11.86


BI-LO
1. Kraft Ranch: 1.47(x2) + 1.00 off (x2) = .94
2. Oscar Mayer Weinders: 4.28 + 1.00 = 3.28

Total: 4.22
Total Savings: 8.75


Publix
1. Pringles: 1.33(x2) + 1.00 off = 1.68

Total: 1.68

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Wouldn't That Be Nice?

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You'll see me write about celebrities here and there, because I do keep up with a lot of the celebrity gossip. I'm not hardcore or anything though. I don't have a stack of tabloids and People magazine on my coffee table, but I do read online alot. I was reading about recent "t.v gossip" when I came across an article about Tori Spelling, her husband and their 2 kids.

Evidently they brought three nannies with them to tend to their two kids during their Hawaiian vacation! Wouldn't that be nice? Maybe I should hire a nanny to come with us to the beach. Although, when it comes to Bree, we'll probably need to hire 5 nannies to watch her. Nevertheless, the saddest part of this story is that the nannies were holding the two children while Tori and the hubby got to walk around as if they had no children or responsibility. I have to admit, it is fun to be with the hubby and no Bree sometimes, but when you are doing something like a vacation...those are the times you are to be making memories.

I won't dispute the fact that every mother needs a break, but when you bring three nannies on vacation with you to tend to your two children, that's just pure and utter laziness.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

I Need Your Advice!

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It's that time, potty training time. Bree can't stay dressed for longer than seconds anymore. Pants, diaper, shirt, it's non existent to Bree. This poses a problem when I put her down for her nap, because when she wakes up, she will have taken her diaper off and spread poop all over the crib, floor, etc...

After the second straight week of washing her sheets, cleaning poop off of her and the bed rails, I've decided that it must be time to potty train. Now, this being my first child, I have no idea how to do this. She says she has to "pee pee", but when I put her on the potty, she makes a pooting noise with her mouth & then hops off. Today she told me that she had to "pee pee" after she pooped in her diaper. So what do I do? How do I make this easier for the both of us? Buy her some underwear so that she knows it's different than a diaper?

I need all of the suggestions, and help I can get. My ears open, and I am ready to hear some advice :D

Friday, June 26, 2009

Is This Normal?

I keep getting picked on and teased...by my own child! Bree has taken it upon herself to see how bad she can aggravate me. It has gotten more severe over the week. She hits me, pulls my hair, throws objects at me, all the while she is laughing so hard, I think she's going to bust a gut.

At first I thought it was kind of funny, but now it's just aggravating. I never got picked on this bad in school. I'm not sure what she is trying to show me, but I'm sure she means well. Maybe it's her way of having fun, or trying to see what kind of a re-action she can get out of me. My reaction is the same each time. If she's hitting me with an object (like a hairbrush), I jerk it out of her hands and throw it across the room. It hurts! I'm not really sure how I can get her out of this. Maybe it's just a phase, but I do have to find a way to let her know that hitting me is not okay.

I don't want Bree to sound like a total monster. Most of the time she's sweet and playful, but the times that she is not playing...she is picking on me. Poor me :(

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Thursday, June 25, 2009

Surprised to Feel so Sad...

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It's been a tough week for Hollywood. First, Ed McMahon dies, then Farrah Fawcett loses her battle with cancer, and then...out of nowhere, Michael Jackson, the King of Pop...is dead. The shocking of these three is Michael Jackson's death. I'm not sure why it's so shocking, but I'm assuming it's shocking because Ed McMahon was 86 years old, Farrah Fawcett had cancer and was 62 years old, but Michael Jackson...he's just...Michael Jackson. He's "Thriller", "Billie Jean", "Beat It". He's the inventor of the moon walk! He gave music a new sound, and who didn't watch his music videos just to see him dance?

I know that Michael Jackson as a person, was very conflicted and disturbed, but his music is what he will mostly be remembered by. In 20 years, when Bree is looking up Michael Jackson's music, she won't know about the many times he was sued and being accused of child molestation. She'll only get to see how great his music was. I'm not quiet old enough to remember any of his music from the 80's, but I do know him. I was introduced to Michael Jackson, and I own his greatest hits album. As long as I can remember, I have known who he is.

It's a sad day to lose both he and Farrah Fawcett; 2 icons in American culture. Michael Jackson was truly the last musical legend. It's now up to the rest of our living musicians, to make legends of themselves.

"I was thinking I would miss the rain. I wonder if you can experience the rain in Heaven, if God will let you dip your wings down..." - Farrah Fawcett

And my goal in life is to give to the world what I was lucky to receive: the ecstasy of divine union through my music and my dance.” - Michael Jackson

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Fired UP!

I'm not quiet sure what has put me in this mood that I am in, but boy am I in a mood. I'm in an opinionated mood. An argumentative mood. I'm ready to prove someone wrong, and I don't care who it is or what it is about.

I think this mood started last night when we went out to eat with Paul's Mom & Dad for Paul's birthday. Paul's Mom is into a lot of crazy stuff right now, and she believes that this is all the beginning of the end of times. She thinks that the jet streams that airplanes give off, are toxins that the government is poisoning us with. This is why we are forgetful of things. She thinks that if she lives in solitude, the government won't come knocking on her door to kill her. She is very extreme in what she believes is happening to our Country these days. Her problem is that she's not just reading the Bible and taking comfort in God's Word. She is reading sources of random people who may or may not be Christians. Ever since she began finding this stuff out, she has done nothing but try to shove this stuff down my throat. She wants me to believe this mess, and this craziness that she has herself so freaked out about. I don't listen to her though. I can't listen to someone yelling at me, telling me all of this stuff that is going to happen. Not only does it bring me down, and depress me, but it also goes against what my Bible says. His Mother also warned us against being deceived by other people, and more or less saying that we need to listen to her.

Colossians 2: 4-8 reads:
(4) Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. (5) For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
(6) As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, (7) rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it[b] with thanksgiving.
(8) Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. (9) For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.


That's when I realized. The Mother-In-Law is the deceiver!! The person she is warning us about, is actually her. She's not bringing me Biblical references and sharing them with me. She's bringing me stuff that other people have said, and written. When I read Matthew 24, it's enough for me.

Matthew 24: 1-13 reads:
(1) And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
(2)And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
(3)And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
(4)And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
(5)For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
(6)And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
(7)For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
(8)All these are the beginning of sorrows.
(9)Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
(10)And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
(11)And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
(12)And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
(13)But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.


That's all that I need to know about the beginning of the end of times. I know where I am going, and to me...that's all that matters. Rather than concentrating on what other people are doing, she needs to be more concerned about where she is going when this world ends. I don't know her heart, and I'm not going to judge her, but at the same time...God warns me against deceivers, and I believe that God showed me the Colossians verses to confirm what my heart felt. That she is wrong. That she is a deceiver. The Bible never says that the deceivers will know that they are deceiving, but we as Christians will know when we are being deceived. I knew that I was being deceived.

I am very thankful for my relationship with God, and that even though I may not always be in the Bible as I should...I know the things I have been taught all of my life. I know the things that I have read in the Bible, and those things are true. God's Word is all that I need, and I never realized that more than I did last night while reading those passages of scripture. I can't imagine living my life without a relationship with God. Hopelessness would kill me if I were a non-Christian.

In other news...
Evidently the Governor of our beloved South Carolina, cheated on his wife. It's made National news, and it is kind of embarrassing, BUT we wouldn't have this problem if the people of this country didn't look at Politicians like they were some type of God or non-human species. Our Governor is just like any other human, and yes, I know that he proclaims to be a Christian. Does being a Christian mean you are perfect? Nope. It just means that you are saved by Grace, and that you should strive to be more like God. But anyone who is a Christian knows how hard it is to live in the world we live in today, and still live like Christ. That doesn't excuse anything "sinful" that we do.

Today I was reminded of King David who wrote some of our Psalms that we have memorized, and hold so close to our heart. He's depicted as one of the most Godly men in the Bible, yet he was and adulterer and a murderer. David was just like any other human and Christian. He struggled with ungodly ambitions and lusts, and yet desired to serve God to his entity. As Christians, we are told to pray for our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. This is why the Bible says to pray without ceasing. If we were praying for our politicians, stuff like this wouldn't happen. I'm not saying it's our fault, but I am saying that prayer works wonders. Perhaps if we had been praying for Governor Sanford, he would have had his full Armor of God on when he woke up that morning. Perhaps if we had been praying for Governorn Sanford, Satan wouldn't have been able to attack him & succeed. There are so many important factors here that Christians are overlooking. So many people think that they would never cheat on their spouse, when in reality...you really don't know that. You don't know what you will do when your heart is hard, and you haven't spoken to God in a while. The whole reason that Bree even exists is that Paul and I were not right with God at the time. We had fallen away from Him, and in return...I became pregnant before I married. I wouldn't trade Bree for the world, but I know that the way in which she was conceived was wrong.

The great thing about my situation, is that I know God has forgiven me. My family has forgiven me, and we all love Bree more than life itself. Governor Sanford has asked for our forgiveness, and said that while he was away in Argentina...he vowed to get his heart right again. He confessed, and now he's asked for our forgiveness. That's what we do. Forgive him, and pray for him and his family.

*sigh* Can't you tell I've been on fire today? What are some of your opinions on either of the two situations I wrote about?

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

I'm Never Buying Anyone Another Present...

I have stressed over the past couple of weeks of what to get Paul for his birthday. Well, today is his birthday and as of this morning, I still had no idea what to get him. The man is picky. He's very hard to buy for, because he is so specific about the things he likes/dislikes. So, I just figured I'd go to Target and I would find something there. Last year I got him a set of vintage Budweiser glasses, so I thought that maybe I'd get him a set of Captain Morgans vintage glasses this year. That's when I spotted it. The perfect gift. "The Perfect Pullup". He has been wanting to work out and work on his body, and he had mentioned about wanting this thing before. Looked pretty cool, and I thought that I might would even use it. I picked it up, put it in the buggy, and just knew that he would love it. I was very excited, and felt all better about not knowing what to get him. When I got home, I wrapped it and waited patiently for him to get home from work.

When he got home from work, I met him at the door and asked him if he wanted to open his present. He smiled at me and said, "Are you that excited about it?" I guess I was. He started ripping the wrapping paper from the box, and once he got it opened, he looked at me strangely and said, "I can do this in the gym. I wanted a video game." Never in my life, have I ever had anyone say that they would have rather had something else instead of what was given to them. I was hurt, and yes I cried. I wanted to pick the "Perfect Pullup" box up, and hit him upside the head with it. But I didn't. I just went to the bedroom, laid on the bed, pulled a pillow over my face & cried.

Well, I made him feel really guilty about it. I didn't mean to, but I did. I told him that I kept the receipt and that he can take it back and "get whatever the hell" he wanted to. It was a pretty expensive piece of equipment that I bought with money I didn't have. I cried, he fussed, and I sulked for a couple of hours. After we made it through dinner with his Mom & Dad (his brother & sister were not present, but that's another blog for another day)...we went to Target, got our money back, and he got a video game.

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I decided today though, that I am finished with buying presents for people. I'll get them a funny card, and that's it. I'm done. He's enjoying the video game now, but I wish that he would have loved what I got him. Oh well. If he gets fat playing video games, because he didn't like the exercise equipment that I tried to get him...that's his problem. I still love him.

Happy 22nd Birthday Paul. I love you.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Discouraged.

Oh to be a child again. Bree has no earthly idea what it means to be "stressed-out". The worst thing she has to fear is if I take a crayon away from her, or make her drink water instead of juice. She doesn't know how good she has it as a baby, with no responsibility, no worries, and no stress. Bree lives this fantasy life that I would pay big bucks to live for a week! She doesn't know though. She doesn't know how good it is to be a child. She doesn't know that she should live in the moment, and enjoy her life as it is now, because it all changes; way too fast. I know that there is no use in telling her to enjoy it while it lasts, because she won't listen. I didn't. I didn't care, but I care now and I would do anything to hit the rewind button. I won't tell her to enjoy her childhood while it lasts, because I don't want her to enter into her adult hood with a bad outlook on things. I want her to think that everything will always be just peachy! Maybe if she believes everything is great, it will be great for her. She'll have a positive outlook on life, while my outlook is negative.

I am a Christian, and I trust God with all of my heart. I know that He will never leave me nor forsake me. So, if I believe all of this, then why do I feel that I need to worry? Maybe it's the state of finance that we are currently in. Paul received a pay cut at his old job back in February. Just as I knew it would, our bank account began to become less and less with each week. Paul finally began his new job 3 weeks ago. He's going to be making about the same amount of money that he was at his old job before the pay cut, but we haven't gotten back on our feet yet because he'll get paid bi-weekly now instead of weekly. The past 3 weeks we haven't had any type of normal pay check, and this week...we won't get anything. He will get paid in 2 weeks, and it should be a pretty normal check. Just in time for rent. I'm so frustrated. I'm not used to not having any cash on me. It's never been alot of cash, but just 20 dollars in my pocket made me feel good. I'm trying to be patient, and trusting, and not worrying, but none of those 3 attributes were born in me. I am inpatient, non-trusting, and I worry ALL of the time.

I think the reason I am most worried is because we take our family vacation the 2nd week of August, and I had begun saving up for that back in February. Then, Paul got his pay cut and I wasn't able to save any money, because we were barely getting enough to live off of. I'm frustrated about that, because I had it all planned out on paper. Maybe, by some miracle I can get some last minute cash saved up for the beach. If not...we'll have to make do.

Just pray for us, and me. I don't mean to poor mouth, but I am very discouraged. I try to do the right thing, but still...nothing goes right for me. *sigh*

How was everyone's weekend? I'm not getting comments anymore on my posts, so I need to know if I'm just boring you all to death...or if you just don't like my new blog layout? Feedback please :D

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Happy Father's Day to All...

Tomorrow is Father's Day, and I am proud to say that I have one of the greatest Daddy's out there! I know how blessed I am to have such a wonderful Daddy, and knowing that he lost his Dad at 18 years old...I try very hard not to take my Daddy for granted. He's always worked hard to support us all, and he has always gone over and beyond to make sure we had everything we wanted. It is sad though, that I never realized how great my Daddy was until I got married and moved out of the house. Making a move like this definitely led me to appreciate my Parents more. I hope that Paul can mean as much to Bree one day as my Daddy means to me. I think she is already a Daddy's girl though, and that makes me happy.

I want to wish all of the wonderful daddy's out there a wonderful Father's Day!

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Thursday, June 18, 2009

Lightening And Thunder and Hail...OH MY!

Here in the South, we've managed to pull ourselves out of a 20 year drought in just a couple of months. We are having really bad thunderstorms too. Not just thunderstorms, but severe thunderstorms. Thankfully, the little town we live in gets bypassed by some of the storms, but a few make their way into our little quiet town. I'm scared of these things, and always have been. I am more afraid of a tornado than I am anything else. I have family that lives in another little town about 60 miles or so from us, and storms NEVER bypass them. Two nights ago the little town got torn up pretty good with these severe thunderstorms. My cousin said that they had a tornado, but the media is calling it a microburst [microburst |ˈmīkrōˌbərst| noun; a sudden, powerful, localized air current, esp. a downdraft.] These 'microburst' can have the same effect that a tornado does. We had one last Summer that completely blew the top off of one of the buildings at the University that Paul and I used to go to. I had never heard of Microbursts until last year, and now it seems that we have more of these than we do tornados. Here are some pictures of the damage suffered in my family's little town:

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In other news, Bree and I sat down to color some masterpieces yesterday. She scribbled with purple, pink, and blue crayons while I designed a picture for her room. It was rather fun until Bree began eating, breaking, and shoving crayons into the DVD player (which ended up breaking). She also thought it would be fun to color on the coffee table. Thank God our coffee table is a dark color, and didn't really show up. Nevertheless, I had to continue to tell her that the crayon stays on the paper.
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Tomorrow is Friday :D I don't know why it makes any difference to me. We have no money for the next 2 weeks, because Paul just switched jobs & that's how it goes. Oh well. If we can make it through these next 2 weeks, we'll be okay :D

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Hump Day...

I usually do a "Wordless Wednesday", but since I completely changed the layout and look of my blog...I have to see what you think! I actually like this, and I think it will stick for a while. How do you guys like it? I do have a problem with staying content with stuff, and my theory on websites is that the more you change it...the more visitors you have that keep coming back. I know, you can drive yourself crazy keeping up with that theory. Oh well, it was a rainy day, Bree went down for her nap early...so I had some time on my hands :D

Happy Hump Day!!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Just My Luck...

So, you remember back on Mother's Day when I had to go buy a camera because my other camera broke? Yeah, well, now that camera is broken. I'm not sure what is wrong with it, but I have a pretty good idea what happened. When we went to the beach last week, I carried my own little beach bag down to the beach. Everyone else must have "forgotten" their beach bag, so they decided to cram all of their crap into my bag. What this means is that everyone was in and out of my bag, transferring loads of sand into the bag as they went. I had my camera in it's own little protective pouch, and had I been the only one in and out of my bag...I guarantee you that I wouldn't have a broken camera right now. This is why I am so angry.

"What about the 1 year warranty?" you ask...yeah, what about that. Evidently, you're supposed to be register your camera online within the first 10 days after your purchase. You know where I found out that little piece of 411? On a little card stuck in the Owners Manual. So, I'm probably gonna have to pay bookoos of money to get someone to fix my camera, or buy a new one. If it costs more to fix it than it would to get a new one...definitely going to buy another one.

I am not a happy person right now. I've decided that I can't have anything. It's not meant for me to be in a good mood, which is what I was in until I realized that my camera was busted. Poot on my day!

Monday, June 15, 2009

Back to Reality...

Yes, it has been over a week since I last updated. Bree and I went to the beach a week ago, and wouldn't have complained if we never had to come back. People think I am crazy, because I say that I would live at the beach for the rest of my life. They tell me that I'd get tired of it, or that it wouldn't be the same as when I go on vacation. Well, duh. It's the environment at the beach that I love. When we go, we usually stay at a place called Ocean Lakes Campground. It's not just a camp ground though. They have houses too. We always stay in a house. The fun part about Ocean Lakes is that you never have to leave. They have a camp store, restaurants, and the mode of transportation is by golf cart. That's the funny part. Sometimes you forget that there is another world out there. Ocean Lakes is it's own little world, where people drive golf carts, and ride around in their bathing suits all day long. It's the most relaxed environment you can be in.

Paul came down with us and stayed until Sunday night, in which case I cried when he left. I had never spent more than a couple of nights away from him. It turns out, being away from him was not that hard. Don't get me wrong, I missed him dearly...but I was able to have fun too. It would have been a true vacation if Paul had brought Bree back home with him. Unfortunately, there was no one home to keep her all day, but boy it would have been nice. I spent the majority of my time chasing Bree up and down the beach. Bree did get her first black eye while we were at the beach. After a week of telling her to not go down the stairs, in a moment where she wasn't being watched, she tumbled down the stairs and bruised her cheek bone/eye up. I was thankful for a black eye, because I know that the damage could have been a lot worse.

It was the first time that I had ever gone to the beach, where I was ready to come home. I think that if Paul had been with me and if we wouldn't have been sharing the house with friends...it might have been different. But it's hard to combine different lives with each other. I had fun, but I did miss my family, my bed, and my house.

The downside of the week was the fact that I was sick all week. Remember how the week before I went to the beach, I had a cold? Yeah, well, it got better before I left for the beach, but then my Mom (who came with me) was sick. She passed her sickness on to me, I had a sore throat & cough for a week, and for the past 3 days I've had Laryngitis. I think Paul is enjoying it, because I can't talk. Today, I have regained a little bit of my voice, but not much. I'm still hoarse.

Anyway, below are some pictures from the beach for you to enjoy!
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Friday, June 05, 2009

Beach Whore...

I managed to claim a last minute spot to the beach today. We are leaving tomorrow, and I haven't been this excited in a very, very long time. You have to understand something. I'm 21 years old. If I had thought my life out a couple of years ago, I wouldn't be married, and I wouldn't have a child. I would be 21 years old, acting 21 years old. Now, don't get me wrong. I don't regret ever getting married, or having a child because my husband and Bree mean the absolute world to me. But when people my age are spending their Summers at the beach without me, it gets kind of sad and frustrating.

This will be, however, the first time Paul and I have ever spent more than 2 nights apart, much less a whole week. I'm not sure how we'll handle that, but maybe we'll appreciate each other more. I'm a little nervous about it all, because I am flat broke...but I do have some money in savings. I'll just have to tap into that, and pray that we won't get into any financial trouble over the Summer. Paul starts his new job next week, so maybe we'll be okay.

Anyway, just wanted to let you all know that I'll be on a beach hiatus for the next week. I hope you all have a glorious weekend, and week.

Thursday, June 04, 2009

So, My Little Brother Graduated...

Yesterday, my little brother graduated from high school. I never expected to get as emotional as I did, but once those childhood memories start rushing through my head...there's nothing else to do but cry. It's still hard for me to think of him as a high school graduate. I still want to picture him as my little brother who broke all of my crayons, or my little brother who always fell out of his chair at the kitchen table no matter what position he was sitting in. I'd like to remember him as the little brother who I spent countless hours playing Super Mario on the Nintendo with, or the little brother who I used to give "airplane rides" or "horse back rides". What happened to our childhood? It seems it disappeared too quickly, and had I known that I was supposed to savor those moments then...I would have. What I wouldn't give to just go back to being a brother and a sister, using our imaginations, and playing along side each other. Now we are brother and sister, one going off to join the Marines in the fall...and the other raising a 2 year old little girl.

I know that we must all grow up at sometime, but I do wish that we didn't have to grow up so fast. I mean, my little brother just graduated from high school. He's turning 18 in August, and in October leaving for boot camp. Wasn't he just six years old? I am happy for him though, and very proud of him. He's grown into a handsome young man with dreams and aspirations. There was a time when we thought that maybe he wouldn't graduate high school, but at the last minute (as most do) he kicked it into high gear, and yesterday he received his diploma. That's more than most people can say for themselves.

Congratulations to the Class of 2009, and especially to my little brother. I know that we've said and done alot of things to hurt each other, but in the end...it's just sibling rivalry and no one could ever break a bond between a brother and a sister. We have each other's back through hard times, and always come out on top.

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Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Moving, Graduation, Conan O'Brien

Image and video hosting by TinyPicI've never been a fan of change. I think I'd be pretty content with keeping things the way they are now, forever. But life doesn't happen that way. It is always changing. Last week, Paul and I made the decision to move from our current location to a town about 30 or 45 minutes away. Paul got a job as a Maintenance Tech at an Apartment Complex, and the job would be easier if we lived there. I was reluctant at making this decision, because the current town that we live in...I have lived in for 10 years. Everything I know, and do is here. My Parent's only live a short distance away (7 miles), and everything I need is less than 5 miles from our place. I told Paul that we could move, but I wouldn't be happy about it...and I'm still not happy about it.

My little brother is graduation high school tomorrow. I can't believe it. It seems like yesterday we were little kids, fighting in the backseat of Mom's mini-van, and now...he's a high school graduate and going into the Marines in October. Where did time go? What happened? I wish I could take us back to those times as children. When we used to play GI Joe & Barbie, or make up things to do outside. I'd even go back to the time where we were rolling around in the floor, beating each other up. I was hitting him with a shoe, and I'm not sure what he was hitting me with. We all hafta grow up for a reason though. I love my little brother, and I wish him the best.

On another note, who saw Conan O'Brien's debut on The Tonight Show? He has pretty big shoes to fill, coming in after a legend like Johnny Carson and Jay Leno. I was surprised when I heard that Conan O'Brien was taking over the Tonight Show, because I know that alot of people just don't think he is funny. I think he's funny, but Paul on the other hand does not. I thought the show was pretty good last night, but I do wish he would keep the "headlines" segment that Jay always did on Monday nights. Those were always hilarious. What did you think of the show?
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Monday, June 01, 2009

Coupon Savings Monday!!

Image and video hosting by TinyPicWell, I am very thrilled with the money that I saved today. Today, I literally cut my average grocery bill in half. I'm not sure if there were just alot of good sales, or if I just had some pretty coupons. I think it has more to do with the sales, because evidently, couponmom.com doesn't like me anymore. I only had the coupons from the paper, which were still pretty good. My favorite place that I went to today was Publix. You wouldn't believe what I got for the price. Scroll down & check out how I did on Coupon Savings Monday!!


BILO:
They were having a "Crazy 8" sale, which meant most things were on sale for .88, 1.88, or 2.88.
1 bag of Fresh Express Romain Salad:
NORMAL: 2.79
ON SALE: .88
TOTAL SAVINGS: 1.91

1 can of Del Monte Manderin Oranges:
NORMAL: 1.79
ON SALE: .88
TOTAL SAVINGS: .91

GRAND TOTAL SAVINGS: 2.82


Publix
I got most of my savings here, because I had some pretty coupons that matched up with their awesome sales!
Kashi Cereal
NORMAL: 3.89
ON SALE: 2 for 5 dollars or 2.50 a piece
COUPON FOR: 1.50 off 2 any Kashi Cereal
TOTAL SAVINGS: 4.28

Maxwell House Coffee
NORMAL: 3.37
ON SALE: 1.99 each
COUPON FOR: 2.00 off 2 bags of Maxwell House Coffee
TOTAL SAVINGS: 4.74

Yoplait GoGurt
NORMAL:
ON SALE: Buy 1 @ 2.99 get 1 free
COUPON FOR: Save .75 on 2 Yoplait GoGurts
TOTAL SAVINGS: 7.28

GRAND TOTAL SAVINGS: 16.30


Wal-Mart
I do most of my shopping at Wal-Mart and was thrilled when I spent 10 dollars less than I usually do here, each week.
Hamburger Helper
ON SALE: 1.25 or 4 for 5 dollars
COUPON: Save .80 on 3 Hamburger Helper


Dial Body Wash
NORMAL:3.00
COUPON FOR: 1 dollar off
TOTAL: 2.00

Dole Manderin Oranges
NORMAL: .76
COUPON FOR: .50 off of 2
TOTAL:1.02

GRAND TOTAL SAVINGS:2.35



My total savings for today is: 21.47