frugalness.

fru·gal (frgl)

adj.

1. Practicing or marked by economy, as in the expenditure of money or the use of material resources. See Synonyms at sparing.

2. Costing little; inexpensive: a frugal lunch.

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[Latin frglis, virtuous, thrifty, from frx, frg-, fruit, virtue.]

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fru·gali·ty (fr-gl-t), frugal·ness n.

frugal·ly adv.

So, I have a new passion to add to my list of things I'm passionate about!
couponing!
I LOVE saving money.
I always shop sales at the grocery store, and refuse to pay full price for certain items.
Things that my kids will consume the whole package of in less than 14 minutes like cereal, chips, yogurt... any snack foods really. I always shop the buy one get on free items (hereafter referred to as bogo.)
Like we say here in Alabama... "If it ain't on sale, momma ain't buyin' it!"
Okay, I never say "ain't" but still, I'm sure you get the point, right?
Every week, Publix has a great variety of foods that are bogo.
Did you know that if you can use a coupon for both things?
For example, If Wheat Thins crackers are bogo and you have two coupons for 50 cents off Wheat Thins (Publix will double coupons 50 cents and less.)
So, lets say wheat thins are $2.89 a box, you are now getting two boxes for $2.89.
But wait! You have two coupons that each double!
You just payed 89 cents for two boxes of Wheat Thins!
See what I mean?
It's incredible!
The website "Southern Savers" has really helped me.
Basically, they teach you to stockpile coupons from the Sunday paper, mailers, and online coupons. Then you wait until items are on a really good sale, at that point you but the items already on sale with your coupons. It works best if you shop at 2 stores so the sales are revolving. (And when items are bogo, you can just buy one and save 50%, it's not necessary to buy 2. Read the signs though, because lately Publix has been doing more buy 2 get one free.)

So this is all great, very fulfilling to frugal hearts such as mine.

But wait, there's more!

There is apparently a hidden gold mine in the couponing community and it's a little place called CVS!
I had only been to CVS a few times when they carried my favorite shampoo. I usually only visit drug stores for last minute things like grabbing a card on the way to a birthday party. But now, I will probably be there ever week. Read This for the full story. But I will tell you a story of my new found CVS love. This relationship is only a few hours old, but I have high hopes for a long and happy partnership.

Yesterday I got word of a "hidden money maker" at CVS. It was $10 back in Extra Care Bucks (ECB's) with a purchase of any 2 Neutrogena sunscreen products. Well, the smallest size available was $1.99. So If I spent about $4, I got $10 back in ECB's. I did this (kinda) I really spent $8 because I could only find one of the tiny size, so I got the next cheapest one for about $8 but I had a $2 off coupon, so I spent $8 and I got $10 back...not as awesome but I was still happy. We needed sunscreen and I basically got it for free.
Today a new week of sales started and they had a deal on Softsoap bodywash. $4 ECB's back with the purchase of 2. So I got my 2 bottles and paid with my $10 ECB's. I ended up owing only 64 cents! At the end of the transaction I was given $4 in ECB's. now, I will watch the sales for other items that I earn ECB's back for and I will pay for those items with my existing ECB's. If I do this correctly I can actually shop for free at CVS!

Pretty exciting huh?

My CVS bounty.
(Street value, approx. $20.)
$8.64 cash investment, $4 up in ECB's.

sweetness.

Pomp and Circumstance.

Promptly finding his seat, at the promise of a rice crispy treat.

Classic Matthew smirk.

I have been caught off guard by the amount of emotion I feel at the end of these kindergarten and first grade school years. Saying goodbye and thank you to the woman who took such good care of my children.

I started the school years with such concern and worry, wondering if they would be nurturing enough. And in every case, we made out like bandits. For Alexandria, is was Mrs Dent. Oh how we loved her! For Abraham, is was Mrs Moon for first grade (we homeschooled for kindergarten.) She is a jewel, and I'm really hoping Matt gets her next year. And For Matthew, we had Mrs Wilson. She was perfect. She has been teaching for over 25 years, a graduate of University of Florida (go gaters!) I never saw anything from her that I didn't like. I found her amusing as she interacted with the children. Scattered yet together as 20 little kids all needed her at the same time. She had a beautiful rapport with the kids, she treated them like little friends. Today, as she hugged them goodbye, I saw wiping her tears...so sweet!

And the fuss they made over the 5th graders graduating was quite unbelievable. The honors ceremony, picnic, commemorative self portraits of all the kids, a free movie, pizza party...the list goes on. All of this payed for by donations and run by volunteers.

Little neighborhood schools with teachers who care, hair stylist who become friends, baristas who know your name, Jamaicans at the corner store (yes, I'm obsessed with them.) They make the world seem smaller. Community matters. We all matter.


And guess who's done with 3rd grade?
Not much pomp and circumstance for him, but he was happy with a nerf gun and an icee. Oh middle child syndrome- you make life so easy.

These are the days...

Alexandria had her honors ceremony for 5th grade graduation today.
She received special acknowledgment for being in the choir,
being a kindergarten helper, and advanced reading (scoring nothing below 90% on her testing.)

I'm proud of her. She has been very responsible. A/B honor roll, she never gets in trouble.

And now, just like that- she is done with elementary school.

I found it a happy coincidence that they sang "these are the days" by 10,000 Maniacs, which is one of my all time favorite songs. It was the song for my high school graduation slide show (outvoted for class song by "this used to be my playground" by Madonna...gag.) I remember being there with Jenny, in the dark and cold auditorium, waiting for our picture to flash on the screen. We were singing and dancing like maniacs-we were the unruly ones.

I love the song...

These are days you’ll remember
Never before and never since, I promise
Will the whole world be warm as this
And as you feel it,
You’ll know it’s true
That you are blessed and lucky
It’s true that you
Are touched by something
That will grow and bloom in you

These are days that you’ll remember
When May is rushing over you
With desire to be part of the miracles
You see in every hour
You’ll know it’s true
That you are blessed and lucky
It’s true that you are touched
By something that will grow and bloom in you

These are days
These are the days you might fill
With laughter until you break
These days you might feel
A shaft of light
Make its way across your face
And when you do
Then you’ll know how it was meant to be
See the signs and know their meaning
It's true
Then you’ll know how it was meant to be
Hear the signs and know they’re speaking
To you, to you

Coming up next, Matthew's kindergarten graduation. Aren't these cap & gown pictures hilarious?

my champion.

So my dad had open heart surgery this week.
I was worried, and sad.
It was not a great week for me, and in other ways it was a perfectly great week.
But he is okay.
Thank you Jesus!

He's way over In Brazil.
And I'm in the middle of nowhere.
In the heart of the valley.
disconnected, connected, I can't decide- mood swings I guess.

I miss my mom's cooking and company.
I miss my dad's insight and quietness.
I used to try to make him talk all the time.
But now I'm just trying to learn from him how to be quiet.
I'm his apprentice- I'm sure he doesn't know.

I'm all over the place.
I'm giving myself permission to be just so.

Sometimes, I fantasize of never speaking with words again.
Only communicating with facial expressions and hand gestures.
Like a statue.
If one of my kids were crying, I would reach out...they would run to me, we would freeze in time, and be silent.
Or, I could sit and think all the time.
Like Abe Lincoln in that big chair.
Everyone can tell he's thinking of great things.
He is soft, wise, and responsible.
His slightly heavy brow makes you trust him.
He looks like he'll speak when he's ready,
and throw is head back in laughter if you say something really funny.
My dad is like that.
He could hush a crowd with a slide of his hand.
And they would listen.
He is steadfast.
He is a chief.
He is a father to whomever needs one.
His eyes are kind, and make him undeniably his mother's child.
He is a statue with a heart of flesh and blood.
He is a champion.
He is my champion.

light my fire.

I've have some cool new finds to share...

I purchased some seashells from t.j. maxx. I already had the shabby-chic plate.

Carlos and I found this desk at Salvation Army. There were 2 and they had the names "Joya" and "Jada" written on them. We bought "Joya" because she was a little more stable on her feet. I think I will put it in the kitchen.
These two tray tables and the stand they came with I found at the downtown rescue mission. I got 20% off for reciting a scripture...it was pretty awesome. I brought them home, sanded them down, and painted them. I'm going to use one for Aiya's bedside table (for the time being) and the other one will be in the front room.

Now I remember...

I've been trying to recall why I lost my passion for decorating,
now it's coming back to me...
BECAUSE IT'S EXPENSIVE!!!
Even at thrift and discount stores.
If I'm being totally honest, the testimonials I hear like "I found this antique, distressed mahogany dresser for $15." ignite deep dark feelings of anger in my heart.
I could have spent hundreds of dollars at Marshall's today.
A few things on my wish list...

This would be perfect in my kitchen.
I have no pantry so I could store snacks in jars, produce, and cookbooks on the shelves.

And this CUTE lamp for Aiya's room.

School is out soon.
I will miss the quiet, solitary strolls through
the housewares department on my days off.

Come quickly, sweet autumn.

cute as cupcakes.

thankful thursday blogger's block eddition.

So I was hoping that spinning "The best of James Taylor" on my iTunes would be enough to get the ball rolling on all these words that can't seem to come out. But it's not working. Actually, James Taylor's music makes me want to eat dinner outside, rock a baby to sleep, or go on a drive with the windows down.

All this swine flu stuff is getting to me, they have closed schools here.

I'm thankful that my kids are healthy and safe.
(but they're currently driving me looney)
(but I LOVE them)
(and I'm thankful for them)
(and they're going to bed early tonight)

Start each day in a happy way...

Some mornings are so hectic, today was for sure.

Yesterday I bought a loaf of bread that didn't scan correctly, so I got it for free. I was happy about that and reminded that God gives us "our daily bread." Well, as it turns out, Gunther ate it (my fault for leaving it on the table) but nobody told me until at least 3 minutes into my search this morning, so back to the store for me at 7:10 a.m. then it was back home to pack lunches, make a Carlos an espresso, and grilled cheese for Matt. Then it was a mad dash to the car because of course I forgot to get Alexandria a "special drink" for her field trip, so we went to the store again... but this time actually stopping at the gas station (that was recently bought by extra friendly Jamaicans who's greeting always cheer me up tremendously.) She got a vitamin water. I tried to seem chill for the Jamaicans, you know, because it's-all-good-man.

All of this before 7:50 a.m.

In car line at school I encouraged the kids to take a deep breath, poor little buddies. I don't like hectic mornings.

But what this post is really about is my thrift shop finds from yesterday. (Which apparently if you buy a t.v. dinner tray form the 70's, with your favorite childhood character, that says "start each day in a happy way" your next morning is doomed.)

All of this for less than the cost of a loaf of bread.

Today I'm thankful for this blog. It really inspires me. I love cottage/shabby style. I love old mason jars and glasses. I LOVE historic homes. I love feeling inspired.

abraham david photography.

scenic views.

photos to accompany grievances against your neighbor having rusty sheds.
or counter grievances for barking dogs.

nature.

livestock/pets.

self portraits.

still thankful.

I'm kinda blah this week.
There's a lot on my mind and even more on my "to do list."
But I've decided I'm going to go buy a house plant to add some color and a new broom/dustpan since Gunther found it necessary to make my old one his personal chew toy.
A nice trip to the hardware store ought to cheer me right up.

I remember as a kid learning in Sunday School that the best time to Praise God is when you don't really feel like it, I guess that's why it's called a "sacrifice of praise."
I really feel like having a pity-party but instead I'm having a thankful-Thursday!

I saw a quote on a little notebook that said "life delights in life" and I think that's true.
Pity delights in sitting around all day in your pj's and feeling sorry for yourself, but life delights in life and living free and happy.
Sometimes we just need to push ourselves.
So, I'm going to go enjoy the beautiful spring flowers and plants at lowes a super artsy flower district, and redeem this day for all it's worth.

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4