A couple of months ago, my sister Katie and I went to a meeting here in Ogden where a lady taught us about different ways to save $$ in your grocery budget. It included getting more than just one copy of the local newspaper for multiple coupons, and establishing a stash of coupons to choose from. The lady who taught us told us about a website called pinchingyourpennies.com that has women who post lists of great deals EVERY WEEK at local grocery stores. You get better savings on using coupons on things that are already on sale. You can price match as well to help with not having to go to EVERY damn grocery store in your area to get great deals.
The lady said that using multiple coupons on sale items might seem like you were spending more money, but if you stocked up on things, it would save you money in the long run when you went to make your shopping list and realized you didn't need to buy more of something when there might not be a deal happening on a particular item that week.
She stated that since she has started "couponing" she has been able to bring an estimated $1000 dollar monthy budget down to $250 dollars a month (she has a large family). She says that she NEVER buys anything at full price.
She warned us that we wouldn't see near that big of a price reduction immediately. She said that it would take up to 6 months. Initially you spend what you normally do, but maybe you start getting more bang for your buck. I found this to be true.
Every Sunday I sit down and go through the 3 copies of the newspaper that we get and cut out the coupons for products I know we could use. I then organize them into the FOOD and NON-FOOD categories. I like to make the first part of my grocery list with things I already have coupons for, then add the things that you don't get normal coupons for i.e. milk, bread, eggs etc. I have been doing this for about a month now. I find that I don't price match and I don't shop at the local grocery stores. The lady told us that we should support local food stores, but after a week or 2 of shopping at Smiths, or Family Fresh, I just knew that I would save more money at Wal-Mart. What used to take me 45 minutes to grocery shop now takes a little more than an hour, but it's worth it.
In the last 4-5 weeks alone of doing this I have saved $35 dolllars a week, except this last week due to the coupons not being as good as usual, thus I saved $20 dollars. For example, if our weekly budget for groceries is $100 dollars, and since I have just started this, I will still spend that $100 but get groceries worth $135 dollars. One week I saved the average $35 but ended up only spending $85.
So yes, I am that lady in front of you that you have to wait for in line at the cash register because they have to scan my coupons.
Go ahead. Roll your eyes, and exaggerate your sighs of annoyance. I don't care because I am saving money and you're not!
There's just something to be said about the first time you get to the cash register and you find out the total of $139 grocery bill is then brought down to $105 (this is with tax)! Then you realize that you can get toothpaste for free, and soap for 7 cents a bar.
Take that Uncle Sam! You already get enough of my taxes.
Thursday, January 21
Comfies
When I shop for semi-professional clothes for work, I am all about cute AND comfortable. While I was working full-time as a foster mom, I was all about dressing comfortably in washable clothes due to the fact I became a walking drool bib and snot smearer (aka giant tissue). One of the hardest things about coming back to work was getting used to dressing professionally again. Jeans and a shirt were my former "coming home and relaxing" routine.
THIS IS NO LONGER!
I have come across some black fleece drawstring pants and a zip up fleece jacket at Target (one of my favorite stores!) for a very inexpensive price! I bought a set right after Christmas with some $$ I received, and after having to wash them a little too often, I went back and got another pair. I am super anal about whether or not the pants are long enough, even with shoes and these are totally just that! I come home and change in to these or something like them. I love that sweats are not the ones our mom's used to wear that are SUPER tapered at the bottom. They make them almost in a boot cut simply hemmed style now that I LOVE LOVE LOVE. I can wear them to go work out, I can throw on a DownEast tshirt under the jacket and go do my grocery shopping.
Maybe some of y'all are totally against going out in public like this, but guess what??
I DON'T CARE!
These new finds are comfortable and warm in these cold Utah winters. Wahoo!
THIS IS NO LONGER!
I have come across some black fleece drawstring pants and a zip up fleece jacket at Target (one of my favorite stores!) for a very inexpensive price! I bought a set right after Christmas with some $$ I received, and after having to wash them a little too often, I went back and got another pair. I am super anal about whether or not the pants are long enough, even with shoes and these are totally just that! I come home and change in to these or something like them. I love that sweats are not the ones our mom's used to wear that are SUPER tapered at the bottom. They make them almost in a boot cut simply hemmed style now that I LOVE LOVE LOVE. I can wear them to go work out, I can throw on a DownEast tshirt under the jacket and go do my grocery shopping.
Maybe some of y'all are totally against going out in public like this, but guess what??
I DON'T CARE!
These new finds are comfortable and warm in these cold Utah winters. Wahoo!
Tuesday, January 5
Diabetes Presentation
Today I went to a local middle school and gave my first ever presentation on diabetes. I spoke to 4 different classes. I was a little hesitant to do this since my only memories of middle school was of hyper, defiant, unruly kids. But to my pleasant surprise, they kids were great. They were very respectful, and quiet....at times almost too quiet.
I had an outline for my presentation prepared, so the first class got what I would like to call the "rough draft". The kids were responsive to my questions, and asked lots of questions in return.
Then.....there was the second class of students. Everything went great, until I started talking about needles/syringes, and then a kid on the class decided to pass out. He totally slumped over in his chair, head fell back, eyes rolled into the back of his head, and color totally drained from his skin. A kid was sent to run to the front office to get some help, and the teacher and I got him to come to, and then offered him a trash can in case he threw up. Long story short, he was fine. He wasn't sure if it was the fumes from the freshly painted classroom or me talking about needles that made him sick.
And ALL I could think of was "oh great, I made him pass out talking about needles!" I wasn't even graphic or anything. He just blacked out. I felt so bad, and silently freaking out that this was my fault. The teacher just reassured me that I wasn't to blame. But how can you NOT feel bad?!!!
I am scheduled to go back sometime in April to the same school to talk about diabetes...I really hope I don't have the same effect on the students!
I had an outline for my presentation prepared, so the first class got what I would like to call the "rough draft". The kids were responsive to my questions, and asked lots of questions in return.
Then.....there was the second class of students. Everything went great, until I started talking about needles/syringes, and then a kid on the class decided to pass out. He totally slumped over in his chair, head fell back, eyes rolled into the back of his head, and color totally drained from his skin. A kid was sent to run to the front office to get some help, and the teacher and I got him to come to, and then offered him a trash can in case he threw up. Long story short, he was fine. He wasn't sure if it was the fumes from the freshly painted classroom or me talking about needles that made him sick.
And ALL I could think of was "oh great, I made him pass out talking about needles!" I wasn't even graphic or anything. He just blacked out. I felt so bad, and silently freaking out that this was my fault. The teacher just reassured me that I wasn't to blame. But how can you NOT feel bad?!!!
I am scheduled to go back sometime in April to the same school to talk about diabetes...I really hope I don't have the same effect on the students!
Friday, January 1
New Year's Resolutions
As with every year, and with many people, I have come up with a list of resolutions for this new year. I hope that with some effort I will be able to say next year that I was able to stick with at least one SIGNIFICANT resolution. We'll just have to see how it goes.
Here ya go:
-stop swearing as much as I do
-pray and read the scriptures more often
-becoming more patient
-losing weight
-eating better-
-managing my diabetes better
-managing my time better
-showing more appreciation
-cooking more meals at home
-budgeting more
That's a few of the things on my ever-growing list. Happy New Year!
Here ya go:
-stop swearing as much as I do
-pray and read the scriptures more often
-becoming more patient
-losing weight
-eating better-
-managing my diabetes better
-managing my time better
-showing more appreciation
-cooking more meals at home
-budgeting more
That's a few of the things on my ever-growing list. Happy New Year!
What I am Going to Remember
I have noticed that people are posting quite a bit about the things that they will remember about 2009. Here are a few of mine:
-being a foster mom to 2 very special little boys
-witnessing their growth and accomplishments (Bubba's first steps, Hunter talking/signing more etc)
-celebrating 5 years of marriage to my best friend
-saying goodbye to the boys
-going back to work
-traveling to LA for the first time
-flying to Houston for Ben's wedding
-renewing a friendship with one of my closest friends
-transferring back to the Deaf Branch
-learning that I am stronger than I give myself credit for
-recognizing the Lord's comforting hand in my life
-understanding the important of family more than ever
These are just a few of the things that I will take with me in to this new year, and in the years to come.
-being a foster mom to 2 very special little boys
-witnessing their growth and accomplishments (Bubba's first steps, Hunter talking/signing more etc)
-celebrating 5 years of marriage to my best friend
-saying goodbye to the boys
-going back to work
-traveling to LA for the first time
-flying to Houston for Ben's wedding
-renewing a friendship with one of my closest friends
-transferring back to the Deaf Branch
-learning that I am stronger than I give myself credit for
-recognizing the Lord's comforting hand in my life
-understanding the important of family more than ever
These are just a few of the things that I will take with me in to this new year, and in the years to come.
Tuesday, December 29
Oh the Weather Outside is FRIGHTFUL....
I had a pretty good Christmas with the in-laws (ALL OF THEM :)) in Idaho. We drove up and stopped to pick my sister-in-law Shannon up from Burley. The few days that we were there were fun, relaxing, and full of laughs. Christmas day was extremely laid back, and my MIL is a fabulous cook.
The weather was also bitterly COLD! It hung around 20 or lower while we were there. As a displaced (but still extremely proud) Texan, this was not enjoyable AT ALL. I hate, abhor, dislike, detest, loathe, have an aversion towards, recoil from the cold. I have thyroid disease that makes me all the more sensitive towards the extreme temperatures as of late. I don't like slipping on ice. I don't like shivering. I don't like hands so cold that it's hard to sign for my job. I don't like it when I see my precious puppy dog shivering from head to toe because it's cold outside......
I could go on about reasons why I don't like the cold but as of today I have a new one!
IT WAS SO COLD OUTSIDE THAT A PIPE BURST OUTSIDE OF OUR HOUSE AND PARTIALLY FLOODED OUR SECOND BEDROOM!
If I was much more of a swearing person (than I already am, much to my mother's disapproval) I could have cursed until I was blue in the face. The inconvenience of having to dig out our storage closet in search of the main water valve to the house wasn't enough. We had to clear out everything of value of the 2nd bedroom closet, and move furniture out of the way, and then spend 45 frickin' minutes trying to get water out of the carpet with our wet/dry vac. Oh and not to mention that we were without running water for about 4-5 hours. (This makes it very difficult to use the restroom, TMI I know) So that's the fun that we had today. Both Brandon and I had to cancel work appointments this evening because of the flooding festitivities at our house.
Okay, I am done venting now. I guess we are lucky that we rent instead of own, since it would have cost us money out the ying-yang to repair everything. We still can't move everything back because we have to wait for the carpet to dry.
I guess we could watch paint peel while we wait. Friggin cold.
The weather was also bitterly COLD! It hung around 20 or lower while we were there. As a displaced (but still extremely proud) Texan, this was not enjoyable AT ALL. I hate, abhor, dislike, detest, loathe, have an aversion towards, recoil from the cold. I have thyroid disease that makes me all the more sensitive towards the extreme temperatures as of late. I don't like slipping on ice. I don't like shivering. I don't like hands so cold that it's hard to sign for my job. I don't like it when I see my precious puppy dog shivering from head to toe because it's cold outside......
I could go on about reasons why I don't like the cold but as of today I have a new one!
IT WAS SO COLD OUTSIDE THAT A PIPE BURST OUTSIDE OF OUR HOUSE AND PARTIALLY FLOODED OUR SECOND BEDROOM!
If I was much more of a swearing person (than I already am, much to my mother's disapproval) I could have cursed until I was blue in the face. The inconvenience of having to dig out our storage closet in search of the main water valve to the house wasn't enough. We had to clear out everything of value of the 2nd bedroom closet, and move furniture out of the way, and then spend 45 frickin' minutes trying to get water out of the carpet with our wet/dry vac. Oh and not to mention that we were without running water for about 4-5 hours. (This makes it very difficult to use the restroom, TMI I know) So that's the fun that we had today. Both Brandon and I had to cancel work appointments this evening because of the flooding festitivities at our house.
Okay, I am done venting now. I guess we are lucky that we rent instead of own, since it would have cost us money out the ying-yang to repair everything. We still can't move everything back because we have to wait for the carpet to dry.
I guess we could watch paint peel while we wait. Friggin cold.
Monday, December 14
Lovin' the Huggin'
It has been about 3 months or so since the boys left us to go live with their grandparents in Ohio. I have not really wanted to talk about it since it was really hard to see them go, though we know they are in a place where they are loved and safe.
I am not going to lie, those first several weeks were some of the HARDEST of my life. It has made both Brandon and I seriously question the thought of ever doing Foster Care again. It entailed much more heartache than we ever thought possible, more than ANY training class could ever prepare us for. We were incredibly blessed to have amazingly well-behaved boys. I have never seen a more obedient 2 year old than Hunter was. "Bubba" was one of the most beautiful little boys I have ever seen and one of the most happy. I can only hope that someday my own kids will be the tremendous joy that these two boys were, and most likely still are for their family they are with now.
One thing I knew for sure as soon as we found out they were to leave us, was that I wanted to get right back to work. I didn't want ANY time to myself sitting at home stewing in my heartache.
I was nervous about getting back in to interpreting. The only real interaction I had had with the Deaf community was mostly my husband, and a few Sundays spent visiting the Ogden Valley Deaf Branch. I felt rusty. I hadn't had my mind process information like it does for interpreting for nearly 10 months. I was terrified at the prospect of losing my skills/talent. I was afraid that my heart wouldn't truly be in it as it had before because I had experienced what it felt like to be a "stay-at-home" foster mom.
My last post included the words "tender mercies" in it. A profound tender mercy in my life is/has been has been the swift ease I have experienced in going back to work. My first week back to work was a little interesting as I worked out the kinks in my mind and coordination of signing and processing information. I prayed my heart out to my God in heaven that I would pick up pretty close to where I left off 10 months before. Those prayers were answered greatly. I got back in to the swing of things with relative ease. One of the coolest things was that clients were actually excited to see me come back. They would tell me they missed me. They welcomed me back. They hugged me. They caught me up on their lives since the last time I had seen them.
While I was thrilled in many ways to get back to work, it was difficult not to think about the boys. The simple human act of someone hugging me became a resonating influence on my broken heart. The Lord knew I needed this type of interaction during such a difficult period in my life. I am still dealing with things that come up that remind me of the boys, and a few tears are still shed here and there but the pieces of my heart are being put together again. For this I am so grateful.
Don't ever hesitate to give someone a hug. You NEVER know how it will affect them.
I am not going to lie, those first several weeks were some of the HARDEST of my life. It has made both Brandon and I seriously question the thought of ever doing Foster Care again. It entailed much more heartache than we ever thought possible, more than ANY training class could ever prepare us for. We were incredibly blessed to have amazingly well-behaved boys. I have never seen a more obedient 2 year old than Hunter was. "Bubba" was one of the most beautiful little boys I have ever seen and one of the most happy. I can only hope that someday my own kids will be the tremendous joy that these two boys were, and most likely still are for their family they are with now.
One thing I knew for sure as soon as we found out they were to leave us, was that I wanted to get right back to work. I didn't want ANY time to myself sitting at home stewing in my heartache.
I was nervous about getting back in to interpreting. The only real interaction I had had with the Deaf community was mostly my husband, and a few Sundays spent visiting the Ogden Valley Deaf Branch. I felt rusty. I hadn't had my mind process information like it does for interpreting for nearly 10 months. I was terrified at the prospect of losing my skills/talent. I was afraid that my heart wouldn't truly be in it as it had before because I had experienced what it felt like to be a "stay-at-home" foster mom.
My last post included the words "tender mercies" in it. A profound tender mercy in my life is/has been has been the swift ease I have experienced in going back to work. My first week back to work was a little interesting as I worked out the kinks in my mind and coordination of signing and processing information. I prayed my heart out to my God in heaven that I would pick up pretty close to where I left off 10 months before. Those prayers were answered greatly. I got back in to the swing of things with relative ease. One of the coolest things was that clients were actually excited to see me come back. They would tell me they missed me. They welcomed me back. They hugged me. They caught me up on their lives since the last time I had seen them.
While I was thrilled in many ways to get back to work, it was difficult not to think about the boys. The simple human act of someone hugging me became a resonating influence on my broken heart. The Lord knew I needed this type of interaction during such a difficult period in my life. I am still dealing with things that come up that remind me of the boys, and a few tears are still shed here and there but the pieces of my heart are being put together again. For this I am so grateful.
Don't ever hesitate to give someone a hug. You NEVER know how it will affect them.
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