A Steal of a Deal #10

Sometimes I see something in a store that I might like to own, but can't bring myself to pay full price for it. Case in point - the monogrammed pumpkin seen above. I eyed these pumpkins last year at Hobby Lobby, but could never bring myself to pay the $30 they cost. Fall clearance came and went and no pumpkins were left with a W on them. Then this year they had the same pumpkins but rather than the letter already being on it, you bought the letter separately and applied it yourself. The pumpkins were $29.99 and the letter was $1.99. I watched intently waiting for them to go on sale, decorating my house without a monogrammed pumpkin.

Then I heard the fall decor was 80% off at Hobby Lobby so I ventured over there. Jeremy gave me a small but appropriate budget and lo and behold there were the pumpkins and letters. The pumpkin that was once $29.99 was not $6 and the letter that was $1.99 was now $0.40 so for $6.40 I bought myself a monogrammed pumpkin. My husband was impressed in my patience to wait and my discipline to not spend more than I was supposed to.

A Steal of a Deal #9

Another steal of a deal at Kohl's - $6.98. I scored 2 T-shirts for J plus a shirt for me. I also got a necklace with a matching pair of earrings. I had a coupon on my phone and a $10 coupon I received in the mail. My receipt says that I saved $81.54. What a steal of a deal!

Couponing Update - August

For the last few weeks of July,  I did the Weight Watchers weight loss eating program. I started eating healthy and watched portion control. So far I've lost 8 pounds! For the month of August, J joined me. It increased our grocery bill a bit as we try to finish up the not-so-good-for-you food in our pantry and make healthier choices.

Here's what I got free this month:

• 4 cups of yogurt - it was both healthy and I picked great flavors!
• a dozen eggs
• 16 oz. mini peeled carrots
• 5 small packages of feminine products
• 1 package of pens (10 count)
• 1 full-size hair spray
• Store Brand Raisin Bran Crunch - a store I shop at has a "Buy Theirs Get Ours Free" program each month. One of the featured items this month, was Kellogg's Raisin Bran Crunch. My brother loves the stuff, so it looks like a care package is in his not-so-distance future! 
• 1 full-size bottle of barbeque sauce 
• 3 protein bars

Other deals:

• One of the items we're switching over is white rice to brown rice. This month I found Uncle Ben's Boil in a Bag Brown Rice. Each box of rice had 4 bags in it. A serving is a half a bag so it's the perfect size for dinner for J and I. With a sale and a coupon, I was able to purchase 10 boxes (40 bags of rice) for $3!
• 2 containers of coffee creamer for $0.50 each
• 3 full-size containers of hand soap for $0.18 each or $0.56 for all 3

A Fall Tour

I don't have a mantle so I decorate the shelf of my hutch.

I made this wreath last Fall and since taking the picture have sold it.

The dining room table that looks really pretty but we hardly sit at it.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

In August 2003, I was 22 years old, single and had just graduated college in May. Seminary was the next step for me, and to be exact New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary was the next step for me. I met these 3 fun gals and we've been friends ever since. From Katrina to marriage to death of loved ones, we have experienced the ups and downs of life together. Since we've all graduated from seminary, we try and get together ever few years. We first got together in New Orleans when 2 of the 4 of us still lived there. The next year we got together in Mobile because we were a little more scattered. And in October, we all got together in Tuscaloosa, because we're even more scattered. It was so much fun!!!

It had been 3 years so we had a lot of catching up to do!

 

2012 - 3rd Quarter

Our third quarter update includes July, August, and September. Those three months contain a mixture of ministry, family, and fun.

The second week of July was Music Camp at our church. Since J is one of the Music Ministers on our church's staff he was heavily involved. He actually co-wrote the music for the Older Camp with a friend of ours. The Older Camp had a 70's theme so for the final performance we dressed appropriately.

J challenged the children to learn their music and lines and if they did so a day early, he would dye his beard a color of their choosing. They choose purple! I went to Sally Beauty Supply and the clerk helped me find what I needed. She guaranteed me that it was temporary and could easy be washed out. I was hesitant but she was right and his beard is back to it's normal shade of red.

During the first few days of August, J's mom called to see if we wanted a family-built hutch that she no longer wanted. We needed a hutch to hold some dishes as well we like the sentimental value of having things built by family. We told her to put it in storage and we would get it next time we were in town. She saved us a trip and came for a visit bring the hutch and our 16-year old niece. We had lots of fun shopping, visiting, and of course filling the hutch with our dishes.

We made a trip to Virginia over Labor Day Weekend to visit my parents. There was so much packed into those 6 days it deserved a post in itself. You can find it here.

We also had church directory pictures taken during the 3rd quarter. The one on the right is the most current picture and the one on the left is from about 4 years ago. My how times have changed!

Some other things worth mentioning, but no pictures -

• In August, I went on a staff retreat at a nearby lake house for the ministry I work with.
• In September, J went to the same lake house for his church staff retreat.
• We enjoyed watching the Olympics and we were so sad when they were over. 
• I started teaching a new Women's Bible Study called Brave on Wednesday nights. It's been a great self-reflection and I think the other 15+ ladies have enjoyed it too. 
• J has started guitar lessons with his two students again - they both took a break over the summer.
• J's grandmother, Dixye, also passed away. She had battled dementia for several years. We are so thankful she knew Jesus and is now made whole again. As one friend said: "She knows all the words to the songs again." J made a video tribute to her including pictures from throughout her lifetime. He copied the DVD multiple times so that every family member could have a copy. It was a great work!

A Steal of a Deal #8

Another steal of a deal at Kohl's. I scored 4 T-shirts for J for $8.22. I had a coupon on my phone and a $10 coupon I received in the mail. What a steal of a deal!