Monday, February 28, 2011

30 Days of Truth - Day 24

Make a playlist to someone and explain why you chose all of those songs.

Seriously, I don't know the name of a single song! I have random clips of songs stuck in my head, but I couldn't tell you what they were or who sang them.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Anyone want to see some Christmas pictures?

haha! Because of the multiple requests for pictures, I am borrowing my mom's usb cable for my camera so I can finally upload some pictures. Matthew and I have both searched this house for our usb cable and we cannot find it.

Our "foyer"!

Always need a cute front door!

My grandma made the table centerpiece for us!

Our mantle! I love that advent calendar!

Our cute first tree!

My grandma's house after the big Christmas snow!

Matthew did most of this shopping for me! haha

Everything I surprised Matthew with!

My family always gives great gifts... right off the great list I give them!

Matthew's pile looks sad, but he'd already taken all those tools out. And he did get a couple big gifts that were outside.

February 26 Shopping Trip!


Target
(1) Up & Up Dish Gel $2.59
          (1) $1/1 coupon = $1.59
(1) Up & Up Bleach $1.47
          (1) $1/1 coupon = $.47
(1) Up & Up Cotton Swabs 300 count $1.42
          (1) $.50/1 coupon = $.92
(1) Up & Up Cotton Balls 100 count $1.12
          (1) $.50/1 coupon = $.62
(2) Up & Up Pantiliners $.87 each
          (2) $.75/1 coupons = $.12 each
(2) Up & Up Mouthwash $1.39 each
          (2) $1/1 coupons = $.39 each
(2) Up & Up Apricot Face Scrub $2.34 each
          (2) $1/1 coupons = $1.34 each
(2) Market Pantry frozen okra $1.27 each
(2) Market Pantry frozen carrots $.94 each
(1) Market Pantry frozen mixed vegetables $.94
(1) Market Pantry frozen green beans $.94
(1) Market Pantry frozen corn $.94
          (1) $1/4 coupon = $6.24 for all 7 bags
(10) Weight Watchers Smart Ones frozen meals $1.80 each
          (1) $4/10 coupon = $14.00 for all 10 meals
(4) Tony's Pizzas $1.00 each
          (2) $1/2 coupons = $2.00 for all 4 pizzas
Total: $30.35
Savings: $34.96, a 54% savings!

However, there was a great promotion running! For every 7 frozen food items purchased, you received a $5 gift card to use on your next purchase. I got $15 in gift cards because I bought 21 frozen items! If you subtract that $15 in gift cards, then I technically paid $15.35 for everything, a savings of 76%!

February 17 & 19 Shopping Trips (A little behind)!

Rite Aid
(3) 7-UP 2 Liters 3/$3.99
          $2+Up Reward wyb (when you buy) 3 = $1.99, or $.66 each
(3) Gain Liquid Fabric Softener $2.99 each
          (3) $3/1 coupons = 3 for Free!
(2) Stayfree Pads $3.99 each
          Buy one Get one 50% off sale
          (1) Buy one Get one Free coupon
          $2+Up Reward wyb 2 = $2, or $1 each
Total: $9.42
Savings: $13.77, a 60% savings! Plus I have $4 in +Up Rewards to use next time!


Lowe's Foods
(2) Barber Foods Stuffed Chicken Breasts 10 oz. $5.29
          Buy one Get one Free sale
          (2) $1/1 coupons = $1.64 each
(2) Lowes Foods Potato Chips 2/$4
(2) Lowes Foods Shredded Cheese 8 oz. $.88 each
(1) Bounty Paper Towels 8 regular rolls $4.99
          (1) $.25/1 coupon that doubles = $4.49
(1) Kaiser Rolls 6 count $2.99
          Buy one Get one Free sale = $1.49
Total: $14.70
Savings: $19.22, a 57% savings!

Harris Teeter
(2) Doritos $3.99 each
          Buy one Get one Free sale = $1.99 each
(5) Pepsi 2 Liters $1.89 each
          Buy 2 Get 3 Free sale
          (2) Buy Doritos, get Pepsi Max 2 Liter Free = 5 Free 2 Liters!
(5) Old Orchard 100% Juice $3.19 each
          Buy 2 Get 3 Free sale
          (2) $.50/1 coupons = $.78 each
(1) Bob Evans Biscuits 4 count $3.89
          (1) $.75/1 coupon = $2.39
(2) Philadelphia Cooking Creme $2 each
          (2) $1.50/1 coupons = 2 Free!
(1) Breakstone Sour Cream 16 oz. $1.50
          (1) $.55/1 coupon = $.40
(1) Kraft Singles $2
          (1) $1/1 coupon = Free!
(2) Nestle Ultimate Cookie Dough $1.99 each
          (2) $1/1 coupons = 2 Free!
(4) Crystal Light Drink Mix 10 count $3.85 each
          Buy one Get one Free sale
          (2) $1/2 coupons = $.92 each
(2) Dean's French Onion Dip 16 oz. $2.15 each
           Buy one Get one Free sale
          (1) $1/2 coupon = $.07 each
(2) Al Fresco Chicken Sausage 12 oz. $2.99 each
          (2) $1/1 coupons = $.99 each
(1) Truvia 9.8 oz. $5.99
          (1) $1/1 coupon = $3.99
(1) Lance Crackers 8 count $1.49 (e-vic sale)
          (1) $.55/1 coupon = $.39
(3) Smart Balance Milk $3.89 each
          (3) $1.50/1 coupons = $.89 each
(1) Harris Teeter Peach Salsa 16 oz. $2.50
(2) Scott Bath Tissue $4.99
          (2) $1/1 coupons = $2.99 each
(1) Sparks 4 pack $3.99
Total: $45.08
Savings: $93.35, a 67% savings!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Soooooo.....

MATTHEW GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so stinkin excited for him! And for me! But mostly for him! It's so much more money and it's a regular work schedule! Maybe now we will actually have more time to spend together and to eat meals together at a normal time instead of late at night!

And he starts this new job tomorrow! He went in for his second interview yesterday and was told he would know by the end of the day. Well by 5, he hadn't heard anything so he called. The man said it was a very tough decision and he just couldn't make a choice, he would let him know first thing this morning. It was barely 9 a.m. when Matthew called me to say he was going back for a third interview! My thoughts were, "A third interview? Who gives a third interview?! He wouldn't call you in to tell you that you didn't get the job, so obviously you got the job!" But Matthew told me not to get my hopes up. My blood pressure has been increasing every second of this entire weekend. And when Matthew called me back to say he got it, I'm pretty sure I had a heart attack. Not 100% sure, but pretty sure. I at least stopped breathing for a couple of seconds. Close enough.

Ahhhhhh! I just want to jump up and down!!!!!

Monday, February 21, 2011

30 Days of Truth - Day 23

Something I wish I had done in my life...

I wish that I had been more outgoing my whole life and shown more interest in people and things. I'm not the easiest person to get to know. When I was little, I was extremely shy. I was scared to talk to anyone! Something changed my senior year of high school, and I suddenly became more outgoing. I still don't let people in like I should, especially those close to me. I shut out a lot of my feelings. My mom says I don't have any emotion, but I do. I think maybe I would have more friends that were girls if I actually showed interest in things that girls like. But for some reason I feel like I can't let people know the real me.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

In Case You Didn't Know...

...I love to coupon! I have another blog where I was posting all of my coupon deals, but I think it will be easier for me to just post them on this blog. And more people actually read this blog. Maybe some of you will be swayed into using coupons by seeing some of the deals I score!

There are a few reasons why I coupon. Back in 2008 when I started my job, I decided I wanted to move out of my parents' house. My co-worker's aunt had told her about Hip2Save. So we checked it out and quickly began to learn the ins and outs of couponing. It was so much fun! And it really was super easy! Of course, living at home, I didn't need many groceries. But after I moved out the following February, I quickly learned that couponing was going to be necessary for me to live the lifestyle I was used to. And I have been using coupons ever since! Actually, I have just become too cheap to not use coupons!

Friday, February 18, 2011

A Little Update!

So Matthew got called in for an interview yesterday afternoon. He was there for almost an hour! The man told him that he was making a decision on Monday. Thank goodness! Because my little heart is about to burst! Matthew is really excited about it and really wants the job and talked about it all night! I am excited, too, but I was being a little more reserved and told him he should wait until he knows the decision to get excited. I'm such a downer, huh? The man called Matthew this morning and told him he wants to do a second interview with him on Monday! Ahhhh! Now I am excited and am trying to refrain from letting my hopes get too high! I am praying for good news on Monday!!!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Yet Another Job Opportunity!

I know it seems like Matthew applies for a lot of jobs and never hears anything back. And that is true. But if you don't apply, you'll never even have a chance to hear anything!

Tuesday night, Matthew's parents told him about a job opportunity that a member of their church had told them about. He went yesterday morning to the temp agency that the job is through. It's a temp to hire position. So after 90 days, he would be employed by the business and not the temp agency. They did a drug test on the spot and then had him fill out all the necessary paperwork. They are supposed to be scheduling a job interview for today since he is off work today!

This job pays more than double what Matthew makes now! It pays better than the city job he is waiting to her back from. I'm just so excited that he keeps getting all of these opportunities, even if it is just an interview. I know that he can do all of those jobs if he puts his mind to it. A year ago, he didn't know how to change a tire or oil. Now he does it all day long. A year ago, he had never worked a job more than a few months. Now he's worked a job for over a year, patiently waiting for a raise and a promotion to full-time. I just hope that somebody else can see the potential that I see and the ability to learn that he has proven over the last year!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Our First Valentine's Day As a Married Couple!

I'm pretty sure this could be considered a milestone of sorts!

I'm not super into Valentine's Day and all the mushy gushy love stuff. You won't see me out buying giant pink and red stuffed animals or candy or even a card. I just like knowing that people care about me. And I don't need a specific day for them to let me know. I think it's better when they let me know randomly throughout the year.

Matthew and I celebrated Valentine's together on Saturday. He picked me up from my parents' house when he got off work at 4. We headed to Wal-mart to buy all the food we wanted for dinner. And let's just say I am thankful his grandma gives us a gift card every month, because I could never spend that much money on so little food.

We ended up with 2 giant ribeyes, each weighing just over a pound; caesar salad mix; focaccia bread; jalapeno poppers (fried jalapenos with cream cheese.. soooo good!); and sweet potatoes.

Matthew lit a little jar candle (that he found in a drawer) and put it on the kitchen table. We never eat at the table, so this was clearly a holiday meal! And we even used the placemats my parents had given us for a shower gift. This means it was a super nice holiday meal! Placemats are for looking good on the table, not for being dirtied with crumbs! However, I couldn't make myself use the cloth napkins. I could never fold them back the same way!

Everything was so good! And we had enough food leftover that we ate basically the same meal Sunday night (we just had red potatoes and deviled eggs instead of sweet potatoes and salad).

We had decided to not exchange gifts because we really don't have the money and the little we do have, we decided to save. But Matthew surprised me at work with a bouquet of daisies (dark purple, light purple, and hot pink)! He knows me well enough to not spend a lot on flowers from a florist! And then in the afternoon, he brought me a mocha frappe because he knows how much I love them and have been avoiding them since I started my diet!

Once Matthew got home from work, we knew we needed to get groceries. We ate dinner at the mall. I got pizza and Matthew got Chinese. Did you expect him to get anything different? Then we went to Wal-mart and got groceries. And we even rented a movie from Redbox (because I had a free promo code), Grown Ups. Of course Matthew fell asleep half way through the movie. But it was a really good movie!

All in all, we had a very good first Valentine's Day!

Monday, February 14, 2011

30 Days of Truth - Day 22

Something I wish I hadn't done in my life...

That would definitely have to be moving out of a college dorm and into my own apartment. I feel like I missed out on so much fun with my friends because I was 10 minutes from campus instead of two doors down the hall. But this is the path I chose, and I'm satisfied with how things have turned out!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

A Day Out!

Yesterday, I went with my mom and two of her best friends to Wake Forest for the day. I guess it was kind of a girls' day out for Valentine's Day. We left at 10:30 and assuming the restaurant would be busy, were going to put our name on the list to eat later. But when we got there, they actually weren't busy at all. And we were all starving! So we went ahead and ate before doing anything else. We ate at the Olde English Tea Room. I don't remember how we found out about it, but we have been going there for years. I always order the shepherd's pie. Always! But this time I got a tropical chicken salad. It came with a cup of warm fruit, I think maybe apples and raisins. It tasted like a thick apple cider! And it also came with the best cinnamon muffin ever. It was so good it could have been a cupcake!

After eating, we headed across the street to a store called The Cotton Company. If you haven't been there, you need to go. They have lots of little shops inside. Lots of artists have their stuff for sale in there. They have candles, paintings, purses, baby stuff, kitchen stuff, jewelry, etc. We walked around the rest of downtown going into a few antique shops. It was just a lot of fun!

It was nice to get out, even if it was with my mom and her friends. But it was something to do. They are better friends to me than some of my other friends have been!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Another Job Interview

Matthew is always applying for other jobs. We are always on the lookout for something that pays more than he makes and especially something that is full-time and has benefits. Matthew has been at his current job since February of last year. He says this is the longest he's ever worked a job, which I think is just ridiculous!

Anyway, he got a call last week to come in for an interview this morning for a job with the city. Most people don't like working outside or doing manual labor, but Matthew loves both! It's a lot more money than he makes now, it's full-time hours and a set schedule (Monday through Friday and 7-4 each day), and of course there are great benefits! They told him he would hear back in about two weeks because they had 14 people to interview! I can't believe they are interviewing that many people.

We have been praying about his job situation. It would just be so great! But we have been praying that God's will be done in this situation, as in every situation we go through. I wish it wasn't going to be two weeks before we knew. I'm pretty sure my heart can't handle the suspense! I know my blood pressure has been sky-high. My heart has been beating out of my chest since they called him about the interview!

Monday, February 7, 2011

It's One of Those Days...

Where I planned to wake up early so I could fix myself lunch, but instead I woke up late and rushed to get ready and didn't even grab anything to eat for breakfast and now I'm starving and counting the seconds until lunch and dreaming of all the food I would love to be eating. Yea, I know that was a run-on. But my brain is getting weak! Today will definitely be an 11 o'clock lunch day!