Friday confessions

1. I kicked a soccer ball while stand five feet away from P. I hit the low hanging fruit.

2. I cleared 2 packs of donuts in under five minutes.

3. I do cartwheels in the office hallway where no one can see.

 

Fess up y'all.

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Once a week I am shutting it off

You know how this is supposed to be the slow time of year, where we all stop what we are doing, we all give thanks for all that we have, then we rush around spending money we don't have on presents we don't want to buy, and going to parties with people we don't really like. Yea--it kinda blows. And it seems as if we are busier and busier. We constantly multi-task, speed eat through lunch just to get more done at work because when we were supposed to be working we are shopping for said presents, and working on our social calendars trying to fit everything in. 

I am making a stand (metaphorically) right now. I am stopping the madness, stopping the craziness, and I am going to reclaim my December. I am going to say "No" if I am invited to a gathering that I don't want to go to, and not feel bad about it. 

I am not going to try and cram in 100 activities into my day. I am not going to feel bad if my to do list is 4 pages, and I only cross of two items. 

Let's take back our holiday month, and enjoy it for once. 

Who is with me?

In an attempt to do this, I have decided that once a week, I am going to turn off the t.v. No movies on the ipad at lunch, no Hulu in bed at night. Once a week, I am going to give myself a break from media to get things done, to read a book, or just take a walk. 

Studies show that we average Americans spend at least 6 hours a day watching t.v. 6 hours! 

Do you know what we could do in 6 hours? We could cook enough meals for the week. We could clean the house, do the laundry, walk 20 miles, or finish 3 books. 

Who is with me? Who wants to give up t.v. just one day a week? 

If you are in--let me know, and let's keep each other accountable and see if by focusing our efforts we can be simplify, live better, be more rested, and enjoy this month even more. 

Black Friday Shopping--Big Savings

Like many Americans, I was super excited for Black Friday. However, unlike most Americans, I was not going to set foot near a department store, mall, or Best Buy. I was excited because my favorite drug store, CVS offers KILLER deals during Thanksgiving week. Fundamentally, I hate Black Friday and the behavior that I see my fellow countrymen and women display. People forsaking time with family and friends to camp outside a store to shop, trampling one another, pulling guns on one another over a t.v., and the obsession with stuff, and junk. 

This week, I spent about $16.00, and got nearly $60.00 worth of goods, and over $25.00 in Extra Bucks! My loot below. 

This week, I shopped at CVS and Kroger to cash in on the deals. 

This was all from my first shop. If we wont eat it or use it, it went right into the donation box I keep in the closet. 

 This is a picture of my receipt that I got from my shopping at CVS. It was two times my height. It was filled with Extra Bucks for me to use on my next trip.

 This was probably my favorite deal. I bought these items at Kroger. The deodorant was on sale for 1.00 each and I had two 1.00 coupons. Next the eye shadow was 4.00 each, and when you buy four, 4.00 were automatically taken at the register. Then, I had 2 make up coupons. I went to the register with no cash in hand, just my Kroger card and coupons. The total came to -1.04. The store gave me 1.04!! I made money on this purchase! Wahoo!!!

 My last shop again at CVS. This was about 19.00, and I used all the Extra Bucks from my previous trip, and so I spent nothing out of pocket. And, I got 18.00 in Extra Bucks back.
                                   

So there you go! How did you do this week?

Friday Confessions

1. I ate 10 mini cupcakes in under 5 minutes yesterday.

2. I bent down to pet my dog and he stuck his tongue in my mouth, so I basically French kissed him.

3. A bird pooped on me while walking to the train. It got on my hand. I wiped it on the train seat.

4.i passed gas while face timing with the in laws.

 

Ok, fess up peeps.

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Books that have changed my life

The other day I was browsing in 1/2 Price Books and as I was looking at all the books, I kept searching for some oldies, but goodies. I found so many books that I have read and loved over the years, and the ones that I love the most,the ones that really changed me, challenged me, I always seek them out in book stores just to see if they are still on the shelves. Here is my list of books that have radically changed me. 

The Bible- I read this book everyday on the train. It never ceases to amaze me all the wisdom, guidance, love, rebuke, and testimony's. It is a love story to us. I pray that I will continue to love the word of God, and long for it every moment of my life.

 I read this series of books back in high school.  This book opened my eyes to the reality of spiritual warfare and the many injustices in the world. Growing up in small town America before the internet took over, I was not exposed to much, and when I read this, it really gave me a sense that not all is right and well in the world.

 P bought me this book a few years ago, and it is one that I cherish, and one that I learned so much from. Before reading it, I was pretty ignorant about Nelson Mandela and his struggle. He is an amazing man. His life is a true testament to peace, love, and forgiveness.

 Probably the most prolific book that I have ever read. Her story is one of struggle and survival. I have read this book at least 10 times over the years, and it always takes my breath away. She was the daughter of a military leader in Morocco who tried to overthrow the king. After the failed attempt, she and her family were put in jail for almost 15 years, and they had no contact with the outside world. They were able to dig a tunnel out of jail using a spoon and a sardine can lid. If you have not read this book, you must pick it up and read it today.

 Finally, this book was aggressive and powerful. It is in your face and unapologetic. I read this book back in graduate school and it opened up my eyes to the freedom I have in Christ.

There are many many more books that I love and will read over and over again, but these are the ones that I cherish, and have changed me. They have changed how I see the world and how I feel about the world.

Your turn. What books do you love? What books have changed you and impacted you?

Friday confessions

1. I bashed my cart into a woman at the grocery store. Hard.

2. My dog sits on my pillow right before bed and it does not bother me.

3. My boss got a new desk chair and I thought it was ugly. I told him 1984 called and wanted their chair back. He refuses to use it now.

4. I barge in on P while he goes to the restroom.

Fess up peeps.

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Enough

Sometimes I convince myself that I don't have enough. I lust for things, for shiny objects, things to fill my house or closet with. I always fall for that little voice in my head that tells me once I get the next item, I won't need anything else. Once I have this, I will be fine. But, that small little feeling of contentment lasts an hour, a day or two, and before I know it I start wanting more all over again.

Why do I work so hard to spend my money on things that will end up in a garage sale. Why do I fall for that over and over?

Right now, I am at a point where I feel likes have enough. I am content and satisfied. I am full. I do not need anything. I have so much more than I need, and so much more than so many others, and so often, I am ungrateful.

Today, I am praying and thanking God for my cup. I am thanking Him for all his blessings, spiritual and material. Today and everyday have more than enough. I am just taking a moment to recognize it.

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Friday Confessions

1. I was so giddy about a shopping trip with coupons this week that I had a hard time going to bed.

2. I have a ton to do at work, but I took three days off and I don't even care if I finish it all.

3. I have watched the same episodes of Modern Family on Hulu at least 5 times this week.

4. I ate an entire cauliflower pizza by myself in one night.

5. A creepy guy at the gym tried to talk to me. I pretended I didn't notice and kept walking.

 

Fess up peeps.

 

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More Coupon Bragging

I was so excited about this shopping trip I had planned this week that I had a really hard time going to bed the other night because I kept thinking about it. Yes, I am a freak.
This week I went to CVS to shop their sales and redeem some coupons and Extra Bucks (their shopping rewards) that were about to expire.
Here is my loot:

The Breakdown:
4 Dial Nutriskin Lotion--7.29 each
Colgate-4.49 each
Scope Mouthwash--2.99 each

After coupons, sales and extra bucks, I paid 7.82! I saved 40.82 today!!!

Have you had any luck at the stores recently?

I just could not help myself

A few weeks ago I wrote a guest post for Leslie over at The Dream Tree and I wrote all about how much I adore Pinterest, but how everything I have ever seen and tried from Pinterest has been an epic failure. I swore that I was not going to try anything I saw from Pinterest, I refused to partake in any crafts or cook anything that I saw.

Alas, I am a liar, I got my Pinterest all kind of on this weekend. And, to make matters worse, everything I tried turned out great. Crap.

I told P that I was getting in touch with my creative side. He responded by saying "I think you are just now developing a creative side." My type A personality that likes everything at right angles, and nothing to be messy hates this. When you do crafts, which I normally call "arts and craps," you have left over parts and pieces, and I guess you are supposed to save them and turn them into another crap, I mean craft. But, I am not going to focus on that right now, I am going to focus on the fact that I did some Pinterest activities that turned out great!

Have you tried anything that you saw on Pinterest that turned out well?

Friday confessions

1. I wore the same clothes all weekend.

2. P would not leave the house with me unless I brushed my hair...he brushed it for me.

3. I was running on the treadmill and the girl next to me kept increasing her speed when I did. By the time I was done we were both sprinting.

4. I totally passed gas on the treadmill.

 

Fess up peeps

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