COUPONS

In the middle of January, I had this brilliant idea to get my crap together and be diligent in my clipping and list making. I was going to keep up with this for a month. I was going to do this for the month of February.


Well, February came and brought all sorts of unpleasantness....I have been couponing, but not as diligently as I like to. Sometimes, I have to run by the store when it happens to be there, in front of me, without making a list. I do try to keep my coupons clipped and sorted, that way, when I do have to run out quickly, I can still save a bit here and there.


Two weeks ago, I had an excellent coupon run. So, I thought I would share as I go. The thing I personally like about couponing is that it is forgiving. They are always out there...waiting to be used. If you don't use them one week, then you can just pick up and save another day.


Personally, I like to keep my clipped and sorted in my binder and be able to just grab it and go. Now, when not attending funerals and hospital gatherings, I like to make my menu and list on Sunday. I sit with my BF and clip Qs on Monday. We either go to the store on Monday or Tuesday. I know that this is the end of the sales cycle and that a lot of people don't like to go to the store at the beginning of the week, however, that is when you have a lot of 72 hours and unadvertised sales.


Yes, I go to 2 different grocery stores and 2 pharmacies (Walgreens and CVS). Three of these are in a town I'm in daily and the other is only 15 minutes away. This is the store that will double or triple...that is why I go there.


Someone, during my last coupon blog, said they only had a Brookshires, David's and CVS. (Is that correct?) I had to go to Brookshires today for some much needed items. I grabbed coupons for as many items as I could. I took my total from $92 to $75. That ain't too bad, y'all! This is without doubles or triples....just buying what I need.


I know a few ladies that have INSANE savings....INSANE!!! I don't look to be insane....(I hear the chuckles from a few of you), I just look to save a bit. If I can save enough for a tank or 2 of gas, or music lessons, then that is bonus. My hubby is very supportive. He has given me a generous budget, but has asked that I save where I can. Anything I save is good.


So, that being said, I will come back with another post. When I have a decent coupon run, I'll post about it. Sometimes, I might get specific with items purchased. Others, I might just tell you my shelf price and then my OOP (or out of pocket) spending.


Hope y'all come back.

AGAIN

You guys have been so patient with me....thank you.

So, after Papa died, I was happily trying to reclaim some semblance of normalcy. I got in KIND OF good shape with coupons. I got laundry caught up. The house was cleaned. I went to a party, had a party and was supposed to go to another.

And then......

I got a phone call from my mother saying that HER mother (my grandmother who is 101 years young) was in the hospital and not doing well. Not doing well to the point that family is being called in to see her.

So, yesterday, I got up a 5:00 a.m. (not early for some, but I get up at 7) to make the drive to Oklahoma and sit with my Mam-ma. I saw quite a bit of family.

She doesn't really look well....she IS 101. Some people keep expecting her to pull through. "She's strong," they say.

SHE'S 101!!!

Oh, well. Only time will tell. She might make it another week, month, or even year. Or, she might be gone tonight. I'll keep you updated.

Again, I appreciate your patience, your loyalty and your prayers.

TEMPT MY TUMMY TUESDAY

Hey, y'all. My friend, Lisa and her twin sister Lana, host this blog carnival. It is a lot of fun. Pop on over and you can see so many recipes, kitchen tips and other fun things on this carnival. I hope you will join us.

For my contribution to this carnival, I have chosen to post on rice...PERFECT rice.

For years, I would cook rice and it would end up a bit sticky. It didn't matter what I did.

I tried so much. I tried drying out the cooked rice in the oven. I tried frying it first. I tried more time to make sure everything was soaked up. I made sure to follow the manufacturers' directions to a "T." Only now do I know that the manufacturers do not know how to fix their own product.

Nope...I found this out from my Martha. She has a wonderful new book out that gave me this lovely tip. I tried it once and the rice was PERFECT! I'll never cook rice any other way.

PERFECT RICE

1 cup long-grain white rice
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 tsp salt

In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil.

Stir in rice and salt.

Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 16-18 minutes. (It takes mine 16 minutes)

Remove lid to check. You should see craters in the rice where the steam is releasing.

Remove from heat and cover for 10 minutes.

Fluff with a fork.

It is great. It is cooked through and NOT gummy.

Hope this helps someone :)

MAKING A HAPPY HOME MONDAY

So I missed last week. Between the flu and the funeral my house was in horrible shape. It's really not that much better, but I'm trying.

This post I have for Making a Happy Home Monday was actually done BEFORE last Monday, but I never got it up.

I started this blog carnival with the hopes of encouraging and inspiring others to make their homes a happy place. If you are in a dirty, cluttered house, you won't be happy. I'm not saying your house has to be spotless, but it needs to be something that works for you.

The point of this is to take an area of your home that needs some "fixin' up." Make it happier by cleaning it, organizing it, fixing it....whatever you need to do to make it nicer to look at and more functional.

With that being said, it IS a carnival...open to anyone who would care to share some of their projects. Just link up on Mr. Linky. Describe the work you are doing and even post some pictures.

I can't wait to see them!

For my last project, I tackled my son's closet. I'm really embarrassed to post these, but the goal is to "encourage and inspire" so here is my attempt.

This was one of the bigger projects....not a little 15 minute perk up. Nope....this took my hubby and I THREE HOURS of working together to get this.

We went through clothes (of which we donated 3 of the large lawn and garbage bags FULL).

We went through shoes.

We emptied the shelves.

We organized.

You should be able to see, from the first few pictures, how it would take 2 of us three hours to get this done.

Baby afghans. School uniforms. A basket of shoes (some with mates, some without). A box of gift bags. A poster. Other things I can't even describe....'cause I don't know.




FINALLY!

Doesn't it look better?

The top shelf holds a big box of pictures, a Smart Saver bag of the baby afghans, rocket stuff and other keep sake items that aren't needed often.

The top bar, to the left has my 3rd son's church clothes that really need to hang. The bottom bar contains my 4th son's church clothes. The shelves (from top to bottom): games, DS #2 shoes, DS #3 shoes, DS #4 shoes.

The bar to the right has DS #2 school uniforms and some church clothes. The dresser is his. (My oldest has a dresser in his room and my other 2 share a large dresser in the bedroom.) Oh....and the plastic box on top of the dresser? DS #2's treasures. These are items that do NOT have to be shared with anybody else.

The box on the floor (the one in the very back that you can't see) contain gift bags, gift wrap and tissue paper. The big blue box that you can see contains a lot of outgrown school uniforms. The shoe hanger thing-a-ma-bog has shoes that the some of the boys will grow into.

Well, there you have it. I hope you join me.

PAPA

My papa died this last Thursday. It was very sad, but expected.....kind of.

My papa was not in the best of health toward the end, but he was still home. For that we are all thankful.

Papa was my daddy's daddy. I saw him often.....he lived just 2 blocks away during the first 18 years of my life.

My papa was a war hero. He received the Purple Heart for an injury he received during WWII. He was a paratrooper and was shot in the back while jumping behind enemy lines.

That's a neat story.

A story we never needed to be reminded of.....the bullet in his back, the one that couldn't be removed, shifted one night and paralyzed him on one side of his body. He was in his 30s when that happened.

He, in my memory, was always crippled.

I'm certain he was always in pain, but he never complained about it. He continued with life.

~~~~

I was very sad when I found out he had died. I was happy, though, that he seemed to die on his own terms. He was afraid that he would know when he was dying and that he would be aware of what was about to happen. He was afraid of being put into a nursing home. Neither of those happened. It was so quick that his doctor told my granny, "When I die, I hope it's as easy."

A friend of mine commented on my demeanor when she found out that I was getting ready to leave town to attend his funeral. She said that I was a lot calmer than a lot of people in the same situation. She then said, "I guess that is how it is with Christians...they don't have the same sadness....there is that hope...a celebration."

That is so true. I was sad, and AM sad that I won't see Papa again during my lifetime. But I will see him again. He was saved.

That man is now doing things that he couldn't do for over 50 years of his life.

He is no longer in pain.

He can walk.

How exciting it will be to see him again.

Be back soon

Just so you know...

I will be back with a post soon. I need another day or 2.

My grandfather died last week. My family and I went out to West Texas for the funeral. We are just getting back today, but my house is in complete chaos. See you soon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Today is my sweet hubby's birthday.

There are NO WORDS that can tell you what he means to me.

He is my best friend.....my soul mate. I know that God had him in mind for me. And, I'm so thankful for him.

I love you, Honey. I hope you have a wonderful day. I'm so glad you are in my life.