Thursday, March 31, 2011

Love These Lamps!

So does anyone remember back in January when I said I bought some lamps? And does anyone remember how I promised to put up some pictures that week? Well you see what happened was I lost my usb cord for a while. And then I got my mom's cord a few weeks ago, promising to return it that week, but I still have it. I'm sure you've noticed how I've been taking pictures and putting some up here. I was reminded by Brittany that she had yet to see pictures of my lamps. So, Brittany, this is especially for you!

I got this lamp at Tuesday Morning. It's just so unique and it was only $30. I love Tuesday Morning! If you have never been there, then you need to go, like right now!

And this lamp came from TJ Maxx! The picture below shows the detail of the base. It's a ceramic base with a light blue and tan color. Then it has a glaze over it that kind of looks like tiny white snowflakes. I wanted to get two that matched, because I'm OCD like that. But Brittany convinced me that it's okay to have lamps that don't match! And of course I loved the price! It was only $50. I was allowing myself $100 to find two lamps, and luckily I got two really great lamps for way less!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

March 28 Shopping Trip!


Harris Teeter
(2) Hefty One Zip $4.55 each
          Buy one Get one Free sale
          (1) $1/2 coupon = $2.55, or $1.27 each
(1) Hefty Trash Bags $8.39
          E-Vic Special
          (1) $.55/1 coupon = $2.87
(2) Ziploc Sandwich Bags $2.45 each
          (1) $1.25/2 coupon = $2.40, or $1.20 each
(2) Poptarts 12 count $2.79 each
          (1) $1/2 coupon = $3.58, or $1.79 each
(3) Furmano's Tomatoes 28 oz. $2.19 each
          Buy one Get one Free sale
          (1) $1/3 coupon = $2.38, or $.79 each
(4) Progresso Soups $2.59 each
          Buy one Get one Free sale
          (1) $1/4 coupon = $3.18, or $.80 each
(1) Hidden Valley Farmhouse Originals Dressing $2.99
          (1) $1/1 coupon = $.99
(10) Harris Teeter Canned Vegetables (Corn, Peas, Green Beans) $.89 each
          Buy two Get three Free sale = $3.56, or $.36 each
(1) Simply Asia General Tso Sauce $1.50
          (1) $.50/1 coupon = $.50
(3) Bagel Chips $2.99 each
          (3) $1/1 coupons = $.99 each
(3) Strawberries $4.99 each
          Buy one Get two Free sale = $4.99, or $1.66 each
(2) Celentano Ravioli $4.15 each
          Buy one Get one Free sale = $4.15, or $2.07 each
(2) McCain Purely Potatoes $3.55 each
          (2) $1/1 coupons = $1.55 each
(2) Tony's Pizza $1.17 each
          (1) $1/2 coupon = $.34, or $.17 each
(3) Bird's Eye Steamfresh $2.65
          Buy one Get one Free sale
          (1) $1/3 coupon = $1.98, or $.66 each
(1) PollyO Jalapeno String Cheese $4.29
          (1) $1/1 coupon = $2.29
(2) Harris Teeter Boneless Skinless Frozen Chicken Breasts 2.5 lbs. $9.99 each
          E-Vic Special = $8.00, or $4.00 each
Total: $50.61
Savings: $92.52, a 65% savings!

Monday, March 28, 2011

Menu Plan Monday 3/28-4/3


Monday: Baked Shrimp over Pasta (never got to it last week) and salad
Tuesday: Zingy BBQ Chicken with garlic mashed potatoes and sweet carrots
Wednesday: Hamburger Helper (with turkey), broccoli, and salad
Thursday: Chicken and Dressing Casserole with cranberry sauce and green bean casserole
Friday: Out to eat
Saturday: Thai Chicken Wraps with Peanut Sauce
Sunday: Leftovers

30 Days of Truth - Day 28

What if you were pregnant? What would you do?

I would cry because I feel like we don't have enough money to afford a baby at this point. Then I would cry some more because it would make it even harder to work full-time and go to school full-time. Then I'd probably get excited because I would have another reason to go to TJ Maxx and Homegoods and Target!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Happy Birthday To My Dad!


Happy Birthday to my dad, the best dad ever! He turned 60 today!


Matthew and I went to lunch with him and my mom today to celebrate!

And we are going out to dinner tonight with my grandma and uncle to celebrate some more!

ABC's of Morgan!

I found this over at Katie's Journey and I thought I would do it too!
A-Age: 22, soon to be 23! Only 44 days to go!
B-Bed Size: King and I will never go back to anything smaller. After I got out of a crib, I had bunk beds, but I quickly moved into a queen sized bed. I think marriage requires a king size bed, that is if you want to stay married.
C-Chore you hate: How about all of them? No, I absolutely hate dusting and vacuuming. It's just awful. And I really absolutely hate cleaning bathrooms. It's just gross. And all that bending over to clean the tub hurts my back.
D-Dogs: I have a miniature dachshund, Miss Bambi, who turned 14 at the end of February! And I have Cinnamon Raisin Bunn who is a miniature Australian shephered and border collie mix. She just turned 2 in December.
E-Essential start to your day: I have to take a shower to get going in the morning. And if I eat a banana in the morning, the whole day goes much better. But sometimes I don't eat one.
F-Favorite color: Blue and Green
G-gold or silver: Silver or white gold
H-Height: 5'8" or 5'9". It all depends on if I am slouching or not.
I-Instruments you play: I used to play piano when I was younger. I quit because my piano teacher wouldn't let me play cool music like Alicia Keys or Usher or Vanessa Carlton or Hanson. Yeah, I liked all the cool people in middle school!
J-Job Title: Teller
K-Kids: Bambi and Cinnamon also fall into this category.
L-Live: Eastern North Carolina!
M-Mom's name: Judy
N-Nickname: Morgs, Morgiepoo
O-Overnight hospital stay: I think when I was 2 I was dehydrated so I stayed overnight. I've stayed a partial day for a migraine. But other than that, I don't remember any hospital stays.
P-Pet Peeve: Smacking noises that people make when eating or chewing gum and slow drivers or bad drivers
Q-Quote from a movie: I have no memory of movies. I couldn't even name a movie I've seen. Well, that's a lie. Right now the only movie that comes to mind is The Rookie. Don't ask why.
R-right/left: right
S-Siblings: One much older sister, Shannon, who happens to have a birthday in 45 days!
T-Time you wake up normally: Well the alarm is set for 6:30, 6:45, and 7:15. I'm always up by 7:25 at the latest!
U-underwear: Of course I wear them!
V-veggies you dislike: Rutabagas. Ugh! I want to puke just thinking about them!
W-What makes you run late: Not being a morning person is why I'm always running late for work. In my head, I don't think it takes as long to get somewhere as it does in reality.
X-x-rays you've had: chest, back, both arms several times, both knees
Y-Yummy Food You Make: Everything! Duh! Clearly, I'm not hurting in the cooking department. Have you seen me lately? Okay, that was a lie. I'm fat because of McDonald's! I cook healthy, well healthier than McDonald's! I can make a mean Italian Beef in the crockpot. And I can whip up a pasta dish with anything and it will taste good.
Z-Zoo animal: Monkeys and elephants!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

My Favorite TV Shows

Well because my life is so boring, I thought I'd just share with everyone what some of my favorite shows are! Perhaps this will help you to get to know me a little better!

I can watch this show for hours on end! I just love it! I like that you have to think logically about who the criminal is and what aspects of their character play into the crimes.

The original CSI. So good! Although, I must admit that I did not like this series until way after I had fallen in love with CSI: Miami.

This was my favorite CSI until I fell in love with all three haha.

Clearly I just love a good crime show!

And I love comedy too! Sometimes the things that Doug says reminds me of stupid things that Matthew says.

This show is just great! It's just hilarious!

I could live with Seinfeld being the only show on television! It's just so funny! And I love that it's about nothing.

So if you happen upon my house on a Saturday while I'm being lazy, you will probably find me watching one of these shows. These are my absolute favorites! These aren't the only shows I watch. I also enjoy Teen Mom (1 and 2), Sixteen and Pregnant, The First 48, Heavy, Intervention, anything on the Travel Channel, anything on HGTV, Jersey Shore, Bethenny Ever After, and all of the Real Housewives (New York, New Jersey, Orange County, Atlanta, Miami). Apparently I have a thing for reality television as well!

30 Days of Truth - Day 27

What is the best thing going for you right now?

The best thing going for me right now is everything! My husband has a new job and he loves it! The semester will end in just over a month! I'm patiently waiting to see if I will be accepted into the nursing or respiratory therapy program! I will finish the medical transcription program in August! Life is good!

Menu Plan Monday 3/21-3/27


Monday: Out to Eat
Tuesday: Spaghetti and salad
Wednesday: Baked Chicken with garlic mashed potatoes and broccoli and cheese
Thursday: Baked Shrimp over Pasta and salad
Friday: Turkey Burgers with roasted potatoes and vegetables
Saturday: Shhh! It's a surprise!
Sunday: Leftovers

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

The Best Breakfast Ever!

As I was trying to go to sleep last night, and failing miserably, I could not stop thinking about food. Not just any food, a particular meal I had in Charleston last year when my sister and I went for the weekend. I have thought about that food ever since. And on days when I really want a good brunch meal, I crave that meal!

I had purchased a gift certificate from restaurant.com. I had never been there, but we were trying to make our weekend as frugal as possible. Most gift certificates off this site require that you make a minimum food purchase in order to use the gift certificate. This particular one was $35. We had to buy $35 in food to use our $25 gift certificate. And the cool thing about this site is that they often have really good coupon codes and you can get the gift certificates for as low as $2!

So that Saturday morning we got up and headed to Cork Neighborhood Bistro for brunch. We were really hungry and planned to eat a big meal so we wouldn't have to eat again until dinner. And that we did! The prices were really good and it was going to take a lot of food to get to $35! My sister got the quiche of the day, which was served with a side salad. And she also got a sandwich (although I can't remember what kind). I got steak and eggs with homefries and pancakes with fresh strawberries and whipped cream and warm maple syrup. It wasn't your typical breakfast. Everything was fresh and you could taste that! Even with basically two meals a piece, we ate every last crumb! And I think our bill came to like $35 and some change. We barely passed the minimum purchase price!

I could go for that meal right about now. Mmmmmm. I can taste it! If you are ever in Charleston, you have to eat there! And if you do, bring me a plate back!

Monday, March 14, 2011

Menu Plan Monday 3/14-3/20


Monday: Cheese and Beef Enchiladas, refried beans, chips and salsa
Tuesday: Sloppy Joes and sweet potato fries
Wednesday: Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches, broccoli, and pineapple
Thursday: Baked Tilapia, Shrimp, coleslaw, and salad
Friday: Spaghetti and salad
Saturday: Out to Eat
Sunday: Leftovers

30 Days of Truth - Day 26

Have I ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?

I vaguely remember a time in middle school when the thought crossed my mind. I never would have carried through with it though. I wasn't exactly ms. popular. I was never happy with the way I looked. All of the other girls were into makeup and boys. That wasn't me. I felt like an outcast for most of my life. I have never been one to cry a lot, but I did analyze everything that happened to me. Sometimes I just wished that I was a different person or that I went to a different school or that I could just start my life over. I wanted to be so different than the person I was. But looking back, I think everything I went through was worth it. And now I don't really regret anything.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Who Likes Cookie Cake?

I love cookie cake! There is an awesome Groupon today for Great American Cookies. You pay just $12 for a cookie cake, which is valued at $30.99! It can be used at 3 locations and expires September 14, 2011. I am so excited there is finally a Groupon be offered where I live! If you love cookie cake too, you should check it out here!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Would You Believe...

That I got an 87.6% on the TEAS!!! And I finished in less than 2 hours! I got over 91% in math, English, and reading. Science was my downfall, as expected, with 62%. But now I know what to study before next week's test!

Now I can be stress free again!

It's Test Day!

I am so nervous, scared, worried, excited, anxious, fearful, exhausted, and the list could go on. I have so many emotions right now. I know this test is not the biggest test I have ever taken. And it's not going to be the crusher of my dreams (maybe just the crusher of one). I do have more dreams than just getting into a medical program at community college! But I want so badly to do well on this test and to get into one of the medical programs. I wish the test was about passion and drive instead of book smarts! Pretty sure I'd ace that one! After studying until 11 last night (so not late, but I don't usually stay up that late studying, just watching tv), my eyes gave up on me and I had to sleep!

There are four parts to this TEAS: English, math, science, and reading. I'm confident in my English and reading comprehension skills. I just finished taking my business English class on Tuesday night, so all of that information is fresh on my mind. Thank goodness I had to take that class. It really was a refresher course, and I can see it's going to help me out so much on this test! The study questions I used definitely told me that I will be guessing at the majority of the science questions. I have never been great at science. I remember the basics. But when it comes to laws and formulas for laws, I am clueless. I always was a good guesser on the SAT though! So maybe I still have those skills! And math. Oh, the math. It's terrible! Horrible! Honestly, it's improving. The last math I had was at least 2 years ago and it was statistics. Far different from high school math. Remember anything from geometry class? Yeah, I remember that I had a tutor! All I can say is thank goodness for google and bing! All of the questions I couldn't figure out can be found through those two search sites with explanations on how to find the answer! Woohoo!

I'm more confident today than yesterday. I'm more nervous today than yesterday. I'm more prepared today than yesterday. I hope I'm smarter today than yesterday. Wish me luck!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Sorry for Being MIA!

I have had a ton of homework to do this week! I had a lot of transcription reports due last night. Tonight I went to my last class (for the one class I have to go to campus for), so I had two assignments left to do and the last test to take! Glad that's done! And I've been studying my butt off for the TEAS test which I am taking Thursday afternoon. It's been a long time since I've had a math class, and the last math I had was statistics. The math on the TEAS is more like middle and high school math, something I don't remember of course! And I scheduled my second TEAS test for next Wednesday afternoon. If I can just make it past the test this week, maybe I will be a little less stressed!

Monday, March 7, 2011

30 Days of Truth - Day 25

The reason I believe I'm still alive today...

That's simple. I don't believe that I've completed what God needs me to do on earth.

When I was in second grade, one of my best friends died from a brain tumor. He hadn't been in school for a while. Our class would send him cards and gifts and we prayed for him every day. None of us really knew what was wrong other than he was really sick. Our teachers did a great job of helping us handle his death. He loved to play soccer. It was explained to us that God needed him to come to heaven because he had done everything on earth that God needed him to do. And now he was playing soccer in heaven all the time. What a great way to paint a picture of death for a group of second graders who really missed their friend! He was happy in heaven and he wasn't sick anymore, and we were happy that he was in a better place.

During high school, we lost another classmate and friend in a car accident. He was one of the most humble people I have ever met. He was always smiling and laughing and always had something positive to say. Again we were told that he had come to do what God needed him to do. He was a great example of how a young Christian should be. He had accomplished so much in his short life. He had learned humility, patience, kindness, love, gentleness, and all the things we should be!

Both of these boys were examples of Christ like no other person I have ever met. I do not have all of those traits. I will be working my whole life to learn them. I believe that you have to learn all of these things and more and exemplify them in your life in order to witness to those around you before you work is done. Only a few special people can accomplish that at such a young age.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Wanna Hear Some Good News??

Well it all started out with some bad news. Well not bad news, just really aggravating news. Last week my cousin told me that he got his letter from the nursing program saying that he could take the TEAS test. Of course I wondered where mine was, but I figured that it was just a day or two behind since I do live in a different town. A few days passed and I still hadn't received the letter. I was going to call the school at some point.

On Tuesday, one of the ladies from the nursing program called and left a message that I needed to get back with her as soon as I could. So I called her on my lunch break to find out that my file at the school did not have any of my transcripts in it. She had been searching for nearly two weeks and couldn't find a single transcript or even my application to the school! I wasn't worried about them not having them as much as I was worried about who had them. She searched some more and let me know mid-afternoon that they were nowhere to be found and everyone in the office had looked for them. I had to resubmit all of my transcripts, which may not sound like a lot, but I have been to two universities and four community colleges. I also had to resubmit my high school transcript and reapply to the school.

And it wasn't even resubmitting all of the transcripts that was aggravating. I had to pay almost $30! Ughhhhh!

Then I had one day to pay for and schedule the TEAS test, which so happens to be next week! The letter was dated February 14. If I'd known two weeks ago, I could have already sent all the transcripts and scheduled my testing day for something that worked with my schedule. But now I feel like I will be rushing to study, because let's face it, these are not subjects that I use on a daily basis.

But at least I have moved forward another step in this process!!! That's exciting!!!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Happy Birthday, Mom!

It's my mom's birthday! Do you want to know how old she is?

She's this many!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you really just count that? Did you want to know that bad?

I sent her that many exclamation points this morning with the Happy Birthday e-mail. She said I could have left all of those off. I just wanted her to really see how old she was! One day she will look back and think how young she was at this age. haha Maybe that will happen in thirty years!

We are going out to dinner and I am starving just thinking about it. I do love steak!