Anyone interested in Coupon Swapping?  I know there are websites that do this, but I’d rather do it with people I know. I guess its a trust factor. The ideal situation would be to meet once a month at a neutral location to swap out. But we may need to do it by mail if that’s not possible. Anyone interested, let me know. If you let me know the type of coupons your interested in (if you have kids, babies etc) I can start saving them for you. Just thought I’d throw this out there.

As you know, Josh and I have been trying to find ways to save money.  He wanted to be able to get our grocery bill down to under $100. Thus the quest began. After going to Kroger, Publix and Wal-mart and buying the same type stuff at all 3, and using coupons, survey says… it can’t be done. We got close last night at Wal-mart. The grand total was $101.14. In Wal-mart’s defense, I didn’t have a fresh newspapers worth of coupons to use, but I still used 2 I already had. Josh loathes Wal-mart entirely. Therefore, despite the savings, he would rather go to Kroger. At Kroger we spent $120.00 (but we bought drinks that we only buy every month or so) Publix’s receipt came in at $114.00 and Walmart, as mentioned above, was $101.14.

  I must say Publix has the nicest shopping experience to date. The people are friendly, they have a WIDE variety of stuff and they take your groceries out to your car unless you insist they don’t. Wal-mart is not designed very well. We had to start in the back of the store, work our way around and then go back through to get the meat. Not very efficient at all. We had to go late on a Saturday night so it wouldn’t be so crowded. Check out was still a nightmare. 14 kids running around in their PJs, and everyone’s buggy is filled to the top, so it takes twice as long to get through the line. Kroger is middle of the road. It’s not the most expensive, (considering we bought drinks) and its not the cheapest.  The store is laid out nicely and it’s right by our house. One problem is every time we go, we run into someone we know and end up having a 30 minute conversation with them. Also, most of the time Josh has to bag our groceries. Sometimes this isn’t a bad thing. When someone does actually bag our groceries, they bag it all wrong! Maybe we are too picky, but we try to put all the frozens together, meats together etc. I even put them on the belt that way so its easier for them. Yeah, they don’t care. They are too busy about talking about their date last night to the cashier.

So Kroger it is. That is until Publix get’s opened up next door. Then I may go to both and just pick and choose who has what on sale each week. If you have any tricks of the trade about saving money at the store, please share.

My chiropractor and I had a very interesting talk the other day.  I was having my monthly scan to see how my adjusting has been going. We started talking about stress and how it affects us physically. I was wondering if my previous job’s stress level had any affect on my body and why I was in such pain.  He told me about this Psychological Theory he’s been studying up on called "Enneagram". Based on this theory he pinned me as a "worrier" and I probably don’t handle stress as well as some. Therefore, it could impact me physically more than it could someone else.  He started explaining his theory to me and I was VERY intrigued.  What really sparked my interest is he told me how he used to be in a funk and not know why. After studying The Enneagram, he learned enough about himself to know how to get himself out of a funk before he actually got in one. Using these practices has actually strengthened his relationship with his family, his patients and improved his quality of life.

I came home, googled it and took two tests. Both tests indicated I am a "Type 2, The Helper" as I read the description, it fit me perfectly! Most two’s are tender hearted, love animals and are very nurturing. We are the "Mother" type that want to take care of everyone, even if it means not taking care of oneself.  We tend to take on careers that are in the service field.

Here’s the definition of a Two, do you think it fits me?

"Twos are empathetic, sincere, and warm-hearted. They are friendly, generous, and self-sacrificing, but can also be sentimental, flattering, and people-pleasing. They are well-meaning and driven to be close to others, but can slip into doing things for others in order to be needed. They typically have problems with possessiveness and with acknowledging their own needs. At their Best: unselfish and altruistic, they have unconditional love for others.

• Basic Fear: Of being unwanted, unworthy of being loved
• Basic Desire: To feel loved
• Enneagram Two with a One-Wing: "Servant"
• Enneagram Two with a Three-Wing: "The Host/Hostess"

Key Motivations: Want to be loved, to express their feelings for others, to be needed and appreciated, to get others to respond to them, to vindicate their claims about themselves. " Information from http://www.enneagraminstitute.com/TypeTwo.asp

Anyway, it’s very intricate but I think once I learn more about it, I can learn more about myself and others around me. If you want to check out more info, go to www.enneagraminstitute.com If you take the test, please share with me what Number you are. Thanks!

I went to a Canning Seminar over the weekend.  Josh planted 38 tomato plants, so I figure I better get prepared. I went to the local nursery holding the seminar having no idea what to expect.  There were all types of people that showed up to the seminar. But we all had one thing in common.  We all valued growing our own vegetables and getting precious information from our elders.

I knew I was in the right place when I saw her. She was an older lady with a straw hat and a shirt that read " Attitude is Everything. Better pick a good one." She was bright and cheery. It was obvious she LOVED sharing knowledge with others. Little did I know that she was a professional. She had been winning blue ribbons at county fairs for years. Matter of fact, she said she had someone call her that morning wanting her to judge a canning competition. Good thing we had our appointment with her first.   The first thing she did was bring in a 12.5 lb cabbage. No ladies and gentlemen that’s not a typo. She entered it into a contest and lost by 9 oz. She wasn’t upset though. She said she could have easily beaten the competition, but she got her plant out late. I guess there’s always next year. The cabbage, by the way, was to teach us how to make homemade sauerkraut.

Next we learned how to make dill pickles. She gives us very specific instructions. Lay your jar on its side, insert the branch of dill. Then you take a clove of garlic and lay it in the indention the "a" in "Ball" makes on the jar. Someone asked why that was important. She stopped, turned around and said, "Its for presentation!" A veteran canning student said that we were actually in "Competitive Canning 101". The teacher looked at him and said, "Well, if you are going to do it, you might as well do it right." She went on to hand pick cucumbers that were close in the same size and color. Of course, they have to all go stem up in the jar. The smaller your cucumber, the crisper they are. Someone asked what type of cucumbers she used because she was going to go to the store and get them. She looked at her like she was out of her mind. She had an heirloom white cucumber that was her great great grandmothers. We were secretly plotting on how we could snatch a cucumber for the seed and sell it on the black market.  Also as an FYI, you must use canning/pickling salt and pure cane sugar. Nothing else will do.

She started to get confused, because she "has thousands of recipes in her head and its hard to keep them straight!" had to reference her cookbook for measurements. I swear I heard angels singing as she pulled it out. It was a 3 ring notebook FULL of recipes. Several of us were wondering, and someone finally asked how you get one of these cookbooks. She said you can’t, they quit making them. People thought they’d have a hard time selling them. My heart sunk. What do you MEAN I can’t get one. That is the BIBLE of cooking. I HAVE to have one!! So me and a new friend of mine broke out our assignments on our quest to get a copy of this cookbook. SOMEONE has to have some left. I’ve emailed the publisher and the society that organized the cookbook. I am anxiously waiting their response.

People just don’t live like that anymore. Mrs. Marjorie grows all her own vegetables and lets nothing go to waste. She said why would you buy a canned vegetable and not know what all is in it. You know, she’s right. I think there is something to be said for having the pride of growing your own vegetables. Keeping things "organic" and keeping life simple. Get your exercise by plowing your field to feed your family. Our society has gotten lazy by depending on Kroger to bring our food to us.   The sad thing is, as these people slowly fade away, their art of simple living will fade with them. We must get every nugget of information we can and cherish it so we can pass it on to generations to come.

Next week I go back to learn how to make preserves and jellies. 

Last night Josh and I went to the Drive In Movies with some friends. I’ve never been, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I must say, this is the best value if you feel the need to go to the movies. It was $7 a person, and you get to see two movies. The only downside is you don’t get to pick the movies, what’s playing is what you are stuck with.  Even the concession stand was a value. A Burger basket was $6.50 (about what you’d pay at MCdonalds) Snow Cones were $1.00. A large tub of popcorn was around $3.50.  You can bring your own food but you have to pay for a $5.00 food pass. You get to sit with your friends and you have more freedom to converse without disturbing others. Plus you can still see/hear the movie if you go grab some food. You don’t get quite the dramatic effect as you would in a closed in theater, but it was a pleasurable experience nonetheless. I think Josh and I will go back. Good family fun. Two thumbs up.

Check out http://www.stardustdrivein.com/

Just when we thought no one could suck worse than ESPN in covering Nascar Racing, TNT proves us wrong.  They referenced tonight as a game. It’s not a game. It’s a race. Football is a game. Larry McReynolds tried his hand at magic. No one cares. Kyle Petty even commented on it that know one cares!! Bring back Boogity Boogity and Digger!!! All TNT has is stupid graphics showing is which lane Pit Out is, because you know we all get confused as to which lane is the exit for Pit Lane. The Restart graphic is just as helpful.  Down with TNT.  I wish they let the fans decide who covers the races. 

Josh and I recently started getting the Sunday paper ( I had a coupon with my CitiPass book) This week I’ve found the following deals I thought I’d share:

Kroger is having a buy 3 and get $3 off certain items including Charmin, Downy and Tide. I just so happen to have a 25 cent off Charmin, 25 cents off Downy and 35 cents off tide. So, with the $3 and the coupons, I’m saving $3.85 when buying all 3 items together.

They also have any General Mills cereal 2 for $4, and I have a buy 2, get $1 off coupon. woohoo for $1.50 for cereal.

They have their Herbal Essence shampoo 2 for $5, I have a $3 off when you buy 2 coupon so I’m getting it for $1 a bottle!!!!!! 

I’m excited about my finds. I think I may have found a new, cheap, hobby.

Today I had an awesome day. But my justifications for it being an awesome day is a little different than it normally is.  I realized today that Josh and I did things today that we always wanted to do as a kid but was told no for one reason or another. For one, I got to sleep with my dog. Mom wouldn’t let my dog sleep with me when I was little. I woke up late (9 AM, which is late for me, when I was a teenager I could sleep until 11 or so) got dressed, and Josh and I decided to go get cheap fireworks.  We go to a stand and they have everything on sale trying to get rid of it after the 4th.  Josh shared with me that the shells he got was something he always wanted but his mom would never let him get them. He had a little kid grin on his face all the way home.  I decided on the way home that I wanted an Icee. So we stopped by the gas station and went inside. At the drink station, there was the options of small, medium, large, extra large and Batman size (which is 32 oz.)  Josh and I both looked at each other and grabbed the Batman size!!!  When I was little, I always dreamed of getting the BIG Icee. But no, I had to get the small size.  But today I felt special leaving the gas station with that huge cherry frozen concoction. As we were leaving there was a kid going in, and I knew, secretly inside, he was jealous. Tonight we are having friends over and we are making homemade pizza (another fun activity from my youth) and we are going to play video games (probably the new Aerosmith Guitar Hero I told you about) and eat brownies and homemade ice cream. Yep, my day will end staying up as late as I want and doing what I want. Ahh, the joys of grown up-dome. Well, until the next bill comes in..

As a present to my dear hubby, I recently purchased Guitar Hero Aerosmith Edition. (Target had it on sale and you get a free Aerosmith Greatest Hits CD) We debated as to whether we should keep it or not. In a moment of weakness, he tore it open and it was un-refundable.  The first couple of songs are not that great. It’s only when you get 5 or 6 songs into it that you finally get into the good stuff. It has Walk This Way with Run DMC, Sweet Emotion, Love in an Elevator, Dream On, Pink  etc. The graphics are awesome. Steve Tyler’s a little scary, but no worse than he is in person. Overall, it’s typical Guitar Hero fun. The thrill of unlocking the songs to see what new songs are available is a wonderous feeling. I give it two thumbs up.  Rumor is Metallica  is coming out with a version. There should be a Kiss version. If anyone knows Gene Simmons, please pass along my request.