Thursday, July 31, 2008

Circuit City Grand Opening/ Shopping Trip



This afternoon we went a Circuit City Grand Opening. John David left work a few minutes early and we got to the store at 4:30. It opened at 6 but we got there at 4:30 to get $50 gift cards! We were the 85th and 86th people in line!! Our waiting was a small adventure in itself...



...it rained

The rain wasn't so bad at first then it started pouring for about 10 minutes and we got wet...not soaked... just nice and wet. But the rain and clouds was a lot better than the July heat and humidity I suppose!

We decided to put our money together and we got:



They were $98 something with tax so we have about $1.60 left on one of the cards! We have been looking at Bose speakers for awhile and since we had $100 we decided to get them!!



Here are the speakers in their new home ready to make the Mac Book Pro sound awesome!!

Earlier in the day I did a little shopping...

CVS:




Revlon Makeup: $9.99 - $2 coupon
Band Aids: $2.99 - $1 coupon
Kotex: $2.50 - $1 coupon
- $9.99 ECB

Total: $2 with tax

ECBs earned: $9.99 (Revlon) $2 (BandAids)

Kroger:



I got all of this for $10.91! (The smaller box of Rice Krispies was $.50, the Warm Delights were $.50, the Skintimate was $.95, the Rice A Roni was $.15!!) I was especially happy about these little bargains!!

This evening my parents arrived to spend graduation weekend with us! They brought garden produce with them, fresh blackberries, peaches, tomatoes, onions, cabbage, corn, and Mom's blackberry jam (the best!!) We had fried pork chops, rice and corn for dinner and everything was yummy!

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

2 years 2 months 2 days

Today John David and I have been married for 2 years 2 months and 2 days! We like to celebrate the little things in our lives and what is better than finding fun ways to celebrate your marriage?

I have been blessed to be the wife of a wonderful man! Our marriage just keeps getting stronger and their is no doubt that God brought us together. We praise Him for our relationship because we know we wouldn't be as strong as we are if it wasn't for God allowing us to love, forgive, and honor one another!

Monday, July 28, 2008

Quick, Easy, and Inexpensive Red Beans and Rice

Download Recipe Card
Tonight I made my version of Red Beans and Rice. It was really good and inexpensive!

1/2 pound Smoked Sausage
1 can Red Beans
Cumin
Salt and Pepper
1 cup Instant Rice

Slice sausage (I sliced thinly, then cut them in half so they would be bite sized). Heat beans and sausage, add cumin, salt, and pepper to taste (just a few shakes!). Cook the instant rice, when rice is done, stir in with beans and sausage and serve!

We like to eat this with vinegar in it to make it soupy and tonight we added hot sauce in our bowls!

I think it cost around $2.50 for this entire meal and only took 20 minutes to cook!

White Water Rafting

This weekend we went White Water Rafting on the Ocoee!! It was amazing! We went with Adam & Katie and Adam's sister Heather and her husband Daniel. I was the only one of our group who hadn't been before and I must admit that I was a little anxious but once I got in the water and we started down the river I had a blast! The more rapids we went over and the bigger the splashes, the better! It was about a 2 hour trip down the river and at one point in the river we could get out of the boat and swim! John David and I hopped out and floated beside the boat for a few minutes!

The plan is that next year we are all going again and are going to raft the upper part where the Olympic course is! I am so excited about going!



...in the Escape on the way

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Lots of Little Things

Today has been a day of getting "miscellaneous" things accomplished and I have done pretty good thus far! I started my morning washing sheets, ironing, and cleaning all 3 bathrooms...it takes much longer to scrub 3 toilets, 3 sinks, 2 tubs, and mop 3 bathroom floors than it does just one! I made a checklist of things to take camping this weekend and have all the camping gear together in the living room (behind the couch so the living room doesn't look too messy!)

I finally did something I have been meaning to do for awhile now, I organized my "Inspiration Book". Over the past year I have been collecting ideas from magazines and pictures of things I like so when we buy/build a house I will have a reference to look to for the things that I like! I just had all of the pages and pictures stuffed in a folder so I sat down and made dividers and labeled each of the categories and filed away the pictures and articles that go under each one!! My categories are: Kitchen, Bathroom, Dining Room, Master Bedroom, Guest Bedroom, Organization, Kids (yes kids, even though it will be about 5 more years I still have my ideas!), Outdoor Room, Garden, and Crafts & Cute Ideas. I think this will really help me and it is organized and takes up much less space than magazines do!

I also spent some time looking at my new Sunday School Curriculum. I will be teaching the Older 3's Sunday School Class beginning August 3rd! I am excited about this..I worked with Younger 3's at Bible School and I am really looking forward to this! 3-year-olds are great!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

It's Official!!

It's official...I am finished with school! After 16 years I am done! I mailed my communications portfolio today so everything is done! It is hard to believe that I don't have to do 'Back to School' shopping for supplies and that I am not going back but very exciting at the same time.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Productive Monday

Today has been a lovely "workday" for me! I woke up early and got straight to work. I have washed and dried 4 loads of laundry, washed dishes, and cleaned out my desk. I also planned our meals and made a grocery list for my grocery shopping tomorrow...it amazes me how I think we have nothing to eat and then with a little planning I find out we have enough food to last another week if I just go get milk and other staples!

I also began making a list of things to take camping this weekend. We are going white water rafting on the Ocoee this Saturday with Adam and Katie and then camping!! I can't wait although I must admit I am a little scared about the rafting!!

The big project for today was de-cluttering! I began with my bedroom closet last night and pulled out several things to give away! This morning I cleaned out my living room closet and my under the stairs storage area and found several things that we don't need! I love when I am successful at de-cluttering and it makes me feel great about having a clean, organized house with only the things we need in it!

This is what I have gotten rid of from my closet thus far:
1 winter coat
1 hoodie
1 pair of capris
2 pair of pants (khakis and jeans)
1 skirt
1 pair of pj pants
2 dresses
4 shirts

Young Farmers and Ranchers Summer Conference

This past weekend we attended the Young Farmers and Ranchers Conference in Columbia. The activities began Friday night and concluded Saturday night. We both had a great time there and ate great food too! John David participated in the Collegiate Discussion Meet and Saturday afternoon I participated in the Young Farmer Olympics while my "un-athletic" husband took pictures! I had a great time playing games!!



Egg toss...



Race...with water



I can run!!



The end result of the race...wet...but it sure felt good in the July heat!!

Thursday, July 17, 2008

New Dishes and Great Finds!

I have had a lovely week thus far!! I have had company which has been nice since I have been alone most every weekday since John David started work. Yesterday I went to Murfreesboro and picked up my mother-in-law, Annette, and brought her to our home while my father-in-law, David, was at an FFA meeting/banquet. We got home around 3:30 and John David came home early to visit. We went to Goodwill and then on to church. After church we went out for supper and then we came home.

This morning I woke up at the normal time and ate breakfast. At 9:45, Annette and I went to Belk. We went to buy dishes for my graduation present!! Here is the story on the dishes. When I got married I didn't register for dishes. I couldn't find anything I just loved. So I decided to wait until I was certain of what I wanted and that it was something I would use long-term before I bought place settings and platters and all of that. Since getting married we have used 2 sets of dishes, the first were stoneware with hearts around the edges that my mom bought for me and the second set were yellow and green dishes that Annette bought for us! I finally decided on a pattern, Mikasa French Countryside, a few months ago! They are white dishes and I love the fact that they will be dual purpose, they are going to be my everyday dishes yet they are fancy enough to be my "china" (which I don't need anyways because I would break it!!!)

Well, a few weeks ago my friends Kara and Bonnie gave me a 5-piece place setting of these dishes!! Kara said, "I have been bothered since you didn't register for dishes and I am glad you finally decided!" So of course, since I had a place setting I had to get the rest so I could use them!!



Today, Annette bought me a set of eight 5-piece place settings, a platter, serving bowl, sugar dish, and creamer for my graduation!! I am very excited!



The soup bowl is the front is part of the 5-piece place setting and I bought 4 cereal bowls so we can have big bowls of cereal!!

After our trip to Belk, we went to David and Leann Simmerman's to watch their kids while Leann went to Wal-Mart. We enjoyed watching the kids and talking with Leann. After leaving there we went to the Square Market Cafe for lunch. It was amazing!! We ordered a Club Panini and a Reuben and split them! They were both wonderful!

After lunch we ran back to Belk to shop more of the sale and did pretty good there! I bought a shirt and a sweater for under $10!



The shirt was $40 that I got for $4.99 and the sweater was $32 marked down to $3.99! I was really excited especially since I have been looking everywhere for a short sleeve cardigan!

We ran by Kroger and I picked up several items there. I bought:

2 Aztec tortillas for $1 each
1 Dole salad mix for $1
1 Kraft salad dressing for $2.79( which I had a coupon for to get it FREE!)
2 Loreal Vive Products (Shampoo/Conditioner) $4.11 each (Kroger had them Buy One, Get One and I had a coupon for Buy One, Get One so I got those FREE!!)

Then, Kroger overcharged me for the tortillas so they adjusted my charges and gave me one of the tortillas FREE since it was their mistake!!

$2.70 TOTAL for all of this!!

So now I am back home and excited about washing my new dishes and eating the first meal on them!!

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

What's Been Going On

Again, it has been awhile since I last wrote. The reason I don't write frequently is because I don't think we have done anything exciting enough to share, but I guess the everyday is exciting!!

We had a lovely weekend. Friday night we didn't have anything planned but we did go to Goodwill to look around there. I found an Elisabeth Elliott book that I had been looking for, it was in perfect condition and only $1.49! I also found a Hallmark plate for $1.99!



I love the pretty cherries, it makes it look so cheerful! It will make a great cake plate or serving plate!!





There is a little poem on the back that says, "Please accept this simple treat for being extra kind, for when it comes to thoughtfulness, of course, you come to mind. And even when the smallest crumbs of food are finally gone, the plate is yours to keep, or else feel free to pass it on. For as you honor someone else's caring attitude, you'll be a link within a lasting chain of gratitude."

Saturday we slept until 8:30 and went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast/lunch! We both got our favorite meal that we get for both breakfast and lunch, fried chicken tenders with hash brown casserole! After eating we went to Target where I found a brown scoop neck t-shirt (I have been looking for a plain brown t-shirt everywhere with no success!) It was a great find for $2.45!! That evening we went to the Sunset Symphony. It was held at an Antebellum home and we had dinner and listened to the symphony on the lawn! It was a nice evening that we both enjoyed!

Sunday was a typical relaxing Sunday, which I enjoy and yesterday I cleaned my home and went to CVS! I did really good there! I bought:

1 4x6 photo book for $3.99 with $3.99 ECBs
2 5-pack tampons for $1.49 each with $1.49 ECBs giving me $2.98 in ECBs
2 Sally Hansen Nail Polishes for $.99 each with a coupon for $3 off, which they gave me $1.98 off making them free!

I used a $5 ECB that I had and paid $2.34 cash and received $6.97 back in ECBs!! I thought that was great, I needed some new nail polish and the little photo book has pictures from our Maine trip and it turned out really cute!

After my CVS trip I came back home and began searching on the Internet for jobs. I found a couple prospects and have made contact about them! Just pray for me as I search for a job and for Gods will for me in the future.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Latest projects

Well, it has been awhile since I last wrote! Our Sunday was uneventful and we left Monday at lunch for Louisville. John David was there for training until Wednesday and I tagged along! I did a little work, read, and went shopping while in Louisville. We arrived home Wednesday just in time for church.

Yesterday, I slept in! How nice! I left here around 11:30 and went to Penney's and Ross. I found several really great deals at Penney's! I bought John David a dress shirt and tie and two shirts for me for $13.90!! I was really excited!! At 1:30 I went to Jen Burns' house to sew!! She was teaching a lady from church how to sew and I brought my mending and a few projects to finish up! I had a really great time there! I got all of my mending done! And I finished this really cute bag that I began in March or April.



It is a canvas bag that I made. I hand stitched the recycling symbol on the front.





Close up of the stitching...it's not perfect, but that gives it character!!

Last night I had the desire to sew really bad so I decided to make myself a sun dress out of one of my cotton prints! I didn't get much done last night so my project today has been making this dress! I didn't have a pattern, I just used a little logic and measured myself as I went. I think it turned out pretty good, it is not perfect by any means but I like it!!



It really looks like a little girl's dress here!



Front view



Back view! I made the button holes by hand sewing them because my machine doesn't make button holes! It took a lot of time but they look pretty good and they work!

Well, tell me what you think, should I never wear it or should I wear it??

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Our Saturday

We had a wonderful laid back Saturday! We had plans to wake up bright and early and go to a few yard sales but we slept in until 8:30! We did decide to go to a few yard sales. We didn't have any yard sale finds today! On our way home we stopped by the Farmers Market and bought 4 ears of sweet corn! I was so excited because I have been wanting fresh sweet corn! When I got home I made turkey and cheese sandwiches to go with our corn and we had an amazing lunch!



I spent some time finishing up my cross-stitching! They are for an upcoming baby shower! They turned out beautifully!!



The bunny for a baby girl!



The ducky for a baby boy!



Both of the precious bibs!!

We also spent some time stripping the chair! We made a lot of progress, I didn't know it was going to take this long though! The chair will be cherished once we finish because of all the time we are investing into it!!

Friday, July 4, 2008

4th of July!

We have had a wonderful, laid back 4th of July! We actually went to FFA Camp yesterday to do some filming for a promotional video for the state officers to take to chapter visits. We arrived there around 10:30 and spent yesterday filming all the fun things that go on at camp! We really had a great time there! John David ended up as the DJ for the camp dance last night and everybody had a blast...we even danced and he spun me! I am learning!! Camp ended this morning and we headed back home, stopping in Murfreesboro for barbeque.



Us at camp!! (This picture was taken on John David's Blackberry...it looks amazing to me!!)

When we got home we were tired from staying up late last night so we laid down and rested...how nice to climb in the bed and relax!! I spent some time on one of my most recent projects, cross-stitching a baby bib for an upcoming shower...I am almost finished!





He caught some of the exciting cross-stitching action!!

We also began working on another project, refinishing a chair! We got this chair from Mom B. and I absolutely love it. It has a crack in the seat and is missing a spindle but we are trying to make it into a beautiful dining chair!! We worked on stripping off all the paint tonight! I haven't decided if I want to stain it or paint it black.



The chair!!



John David hard at work...he is much better at these things than I am!!

So that was pretty much our 4th of July, no big party or cookout, just enjoying a day together doing the things we like to do and enjoying the simple pleasures of life!
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