Isaiah 25:1

Jul 18, 2007

Back on the Horse

I am proud to report that I went back to the store with my coupons. I took a fed and rested baby with me and she did very good. We went to Kmart, which is not someplace I usually shop, but I had a store specific coupon for $5 off Enfamil formula. Anyways, I was pleased to find they had a lot of good sales and I saved almost $5 in sale prices plus $15.oo in coupons. Over 20% of my entire purchase. Yea! It was encouraging to have a shopping success with Elisa and start saving money again. Who knows, maybe I'll start going back to Aldi soon too! This baby stuff sure complicates things.

Jul 17, 2007

Couponing and Me

All right ladies. I hope I am not the only one who has had this experience.

Clip coupons religiously. Make a list for the grocery store. Separate relevant coupons, coupons too good not to use before they expire etc. Take it all to the store and shop, diligently comparing items with coupons, eliminating some when they still don't make a good deal. Stand in a huge line at checkout and watch the lady in front of me couponing while the cashier tells some story about a lady who routinely saves like $70.00 in coupons (wowsers, where is she finding them I wonder?). Get to the checkout counter, distracted by fussy baby in my arms and VOILA, forget to use the stupid coupons. Of course I realized it as soon as she handed me the receipt.

I felt like cursing. This is the second time in a row this has happened. And the reality of it- with a baby in my arms, hot car to look forward to and groceries melting in the cart-is that it suddenly it doesn't seem worth it to return/exchange, get a manager involved etc., all over a lost savings of a few dollars, even if it is 10% of my purchase. So, I just swallowed it and went home a few dollars poorer than I had to. Some days it just doesn't seem worth it.

What a lot of wasted effort just to feel stupid! Seems like there are such easier ways...

Jul 3, 2007

Maybelle

For those curious about seeing pictures of our new house, Brandon is supposed to be working on a photo album to put on his blog since it has room to host a lot of photos. However, since it is taking him forever to get around to it (mostly since we have so much yardwork to do) here is a teaser...

This is what we started with!

So, when you visit, you'll know just how far we have come.

Jun 28, 2007

June

Wow, so many memorable things have happenned this month. I am going to try and finally post about some of them to update everyone on our *fascinating* life, since I know you are all dying to hear from me!

Here are a few highlights:

Elisa took her first airplane ride and did quite well, although I vowed never to fly with a baby in my lap again.
We had a fabulous vacation in Florida with Christina and her family, which consisted mostly of managing four under four and the occasional trip to Walmart. .
Elisa went swimming for the first time. She also began eating rice cereal and we have moved on to green beans - which she doesn't seem to care for.
The first day of summer has come and gone without a ray of sunshine. It won't stop raining here!
Elisa weighs 15.10; double her birthweight.
Brandon spent a week in Frisco, TX (Dallas) training a new manager and I got to spend a night there as well. We left Elisa with my mom and had great impromptu getaway weekend on Oakley's dime.
I finished my Christmas shopping - HA, HA!
We went to a car show with Brandon's parents where they won the coveted 'best in show'
I got another major sunburn - what can I say, it was raining and I am not used to the exterior elements!
Oakley announced a merger with the evil Luxotica. We have mixed feelings about this and are looking for our own million dollar idea to sell to the evil Luxotica in twenty years for a billion or so...
I have lost 10 lbs of babyweight and gained 3 back in Dallas, curses!
I am sure there is more news of a similar mediocre nature but, let's get on with what you all came to see anyways...