Coupons

Good morning!

It's Monday again. And it's a rainy one. I'm sitting in my office enjoying my coffee before the little monkey wakes up. I'm almost scared to type too loud. This peacefulness is all too good.

Today also means it's time to hop aboard the strict fitness train again. Yesterday, I found myself browsing the Victoria's Secret swim catalog and well...it was pretty scary. No, not the actual catalog. Those girls and swimsuits are lovely. But the thoughts of the efforts I'll need to put forth to actually buy anything from there are quite frightening. I did it last summer though. I reckon I can do it again.

Last night, I finally got started on another resolution. Actually, I've been meaning to grab a couple papers for the past 3 or 4 Sundays and kept forgetting until yesterday. But one of my resolutions is to save lots of money this year. Darren drove me around after church until I found a newspaper stand I liked. Coupons are kinda crazy here. It's hard to find a non-empty newspaper machine if you don't go first thing Sunday morning. And I wasn't allowing him to stop at any sketchy-feeling gas stations. I'm skeered. What can I say?

After possibly cursing out one machine for taking my $4 and driving all the way into the next town, I finally scored myself 2 newspapers with all of the coupon inserts still in them. (People sometimes take several inserts when they pay once to open the machine. Cheaters!)

I started clipping and organizing as soon as we got home. It literally took me over 3 hours to get everything finished. There were a ton of coupons in the inserts yesterday!

...Oh, how did that beer get there? Oops.

I'm not aspiring to be on "Extreme Couponing" or anything. That show gives me anxiety. There's no way I could take $500 worth of groceries up to the register in hopes that my delicate planning gets me down to $5. I just clip the coupons I think I will/could use. Then I'll check websites such as "Money Saving Mom" and "Southern Savers" to find what stores will have the best deals and what coupons to pair with them. You won't catch me with extra shelves in my living room housing 500 rolls of paper towels or a freezer full of free junk food. But I might buy 5 razors or so if I can catch a good sale. Those things are crazy expensive!

Trash bags, coffee, juice.. the necessities. 

So, do you coupon? What are some of your best tricks? Some of the lingo and rules still confuse me a little bit. 

Have a great week!

-Jennifer

Short and Sweet

Today I just felt like sharing something short and sweet. No pun intended. Okay, maybe I did intend it. After all, one of them is short and sweet. It's 3 of my favorite things; My daughter, my beautiful grandmother, and frozen yogurt. Although I'm really not sure who loves frozen yogurt more.. myself, Mackenna, or my grandmother. Maybe you can figure it out. I think it's actually pretty obvious! 

Happy Saturday, y'all!

New Year's Resolutions

Hey y'all.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year's Day! I got in my traditional New Year's meal, so 2014 should entail lots of pennies, dollars, and good health. Lets hope! I also got in two of my most favorite casseroles once more before hopping back aboard the fitness train; corn and pineapple. 

I've been thinking about resolutions. This year I'm thinking to just keep one big one. And it's to just be a better version I myself. Stereotypical, maybe. But I think it'll make things a lot easier. 

Instead of really focusing on a weight loss  number of pounds, I want to just become   healthier. I want to make working out part of my daily routine because it's good me; not just good for my bikini body. 

I also want to be a better wife, mother, and housekeeper. I've seemed to have gotten lazy in the last 6 months, y'all. I've let laundry and dishes pile up like nobody's business. (As it shouldn't be. It's gross!) As far as being a better wife and mother goes, I know I'm not bad at either. But there's always areas in both I could improve in. Like, spending more one-on-one time with Mackenna and making it a priority to do the same with Darren. 

And lastly, but surely not least. In fact, this may be the most important. I want to strengthen my faith. 2013 held some

pretty big triumphs and struggles for me. I truly believe that if it wasn't for The Lord, they either wouldn't have happened or I wouldn't have made it through. Last year I prayed and prayed and prayed for God to bring me closer to him. (And for his help with a few specific things.) I feel like he definitely did that for me and I do feel closer to him. Now I need to do my part in thanking him and living my life how I think he wants me to. 

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I'm working on a decent little overhaul for the blog too. I want to add a specific spot for my photography as well as a few other things. I like to talk too much to only focus on one topic! I can't wait to connect with some new blog friends! Have a great rest of the week!

-Jenn