D-E-A-L-S!

You know that I love a great deal!

This week @ CVS:

-I got 1 Skintimate shaving cream for $2.94, but got $2.50 ECB back=$0.44

-I got 1 Colgate toothbrush for $1.99, but got $2 ECB back= FREE

Other deals:

-With the help of my work "lunch quad crew", I collected 20 Lean Cuisine codes & have ordered my FREE lunch bag...love it!

-I also just ordered a $25 Target gift card MyPoints...I take surveys & open e-mails from them to earn points that I can redeem for gift cards...I love it! I've got my eye on a summer dress @ Target, so i can't wait for the gift card to arrive!

-Best deal recently: I joined Groupon, got a $10 discount code for my 1st purchase. Got an offer for movie tickets for "The Lincoln Lawyer" (Matthew McConaughey) for $6 each. Bought 2=$12=$10 code= $2/2 tickets! Looks like date night this weekend!

out like a lamb...

I can't believe March is almost over...where does the time go?

This month has been so busy at work:
getting ready to wrap up clinicals (whew!),
planning 5 clinical simulation days,
grading concept maps (double whew!),
writing questions & an outline for an NCLEX review book,
getting final clinical evaluations done,
meetings, meetings, meetings...

We've been so busy at home too:
finishing our taxes,
spring cleaning,
decorating for spring/Easter,
Sunday night Bible study at WBC,
taking in NCAA tournament action,
house hunting,
looking for part-time summer jobs...

Here's to hoping the month of April goes by much slower than March!

2 years.

It was 2 years ago today that Peppes died.
Some days it still feels like it was yesterday and other times it feels like it was a forever ago that I talked to her last.

In keeping with the tradition I started last year, I'm making a from-scratch "Peppes Banana Pudding" for desert tonight.
It's just a small way that I can keep memories of my time with her alive.
Just like last year, I imagine the pudding will be mixed with a few tears.

My life is forever changed by her absence, but is forever better because of knowing and loving her.

coupons!

If you haven't already, click here to order your Publix coupon book worth $50 of savings.

You will receive the book in a few weeks and coupons are good for the month of April.

Just another way to save, save, save...

pasta deals!

I hit the jackpot last week on pasta deals @ Publix.

Kraft Homestyle Mac & Cheese:
A few weeks ago they had these on BOGO sale. They were out so I got a rain check.
I went back last week, used by rain check & 2 coupons for $1 off of each one.
Each was $2.79 regularly. With BOGO & coupons, I paid $0.79 for both!
P.S.-I made 1 earlier this week & we were surprised by how good it was. I recommend trying it!

Wacky Mac:
This is a new product for me. It's pasta made from veggies like tomatoes, spinach & beets.
I was a bit skeptical, but it's totally delicious.
Publix had it on sale for $0.99/bag. I had a $0.40 off/bag; it doubled to $0.80 off, so I paid $0.19 for it!I love saving $$$!

snow day craft

I made this simple monogrammed canvas art last Thursday when I was temporarily snowed in...

Fortunately, I had been to Michael's on Tuesday & had bought things for a craft project.

I found the decorative canvas at Michael's in the bargain section for $3 (wish I had bought more). I bought a wooden 'T' from the $1 section to use as a pattern to trace onto the canvas before I painted (you could also print a template off of your computer or one of those awesome, fancy cricut machines I don't have). I bought a bottle of $.50 craft paint, a foam brush, & voila!

I love the way it unifies this little area in our hallway!

I'm linking up to...

because of you...

i know what it means to love another being with all of my life.

i smile, even on the worst of days.

i know how love grows through trials & triumphs.

i am a better friend, a better wife, a better woman.

Chris, I love you!

why I'm SO over the snow...

*We got 2-3 inches of snow late yesterday. I believe this is our 6th snow of 2011.

*We also had 2 snows before Christmas.

*Yesterday's snow started just before rush hour...everyone left work early (including Chris) & it was sheer madness. Chris left work & after nearly 3 hours in the car had gone less than a 1/2 mile. We decided it was best for him to stay in lab last night. So, now the snow is keeping my babe & I apart. Snow...this is where I draw the line!

*People don't know how to drive in the snow. I'm no expert, but at least I only get out in it unless I have to & I drive slow.

*The city is out of money for salt & sand for the roads=hot mess!

*I can't keep my car looking clean.

*I can't keep my floors clean from someone's little snowy paws.

*I'm almost out of milk & I am 99.9% certain that the grocery stores are definitely out of milk.

*It's 12 degrees right now.

*I want to be wearing flip-flops, not snow boots.

Ohhhh how I hope this our last snow of the season.

CSA

I knew very little about the concept of CSA until recently.

CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) allows individuals/families to purchase a "share" of a farm or collection of farms and in return obtain a box of fresh produce for an established period of time. Purchasing a "share" typically requires a significant deposit and remainder of the payment to be submitted up-front in order for the farmer(s) to have the monetary resources needed for the growing season.

We did our research and have applied for a share of a local farm, Paradise Produce. For 25 weeks, May through October, we will receive a 1/4 bushel box of fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs. We can pick our box up just down the street from work each Wednesday at the same time.

Then, we get to enjoy having the freshest of the fresh to enjoy!

Can't wait to pick up a box like this...

I'm so looking forward to trying out some recipes and meeting the challenge of using everything in the box!

You can read more about CSAs and check out CSA farms in your area @ Local Harvest.

Oreo truffles, Super Bowl style!

In honor of the Super Bowl, I redesigned the infamous Oreo truffles (the hit of the Christmas season)...
football-shaped truffles with white icing for the football laces.

They weren't as perfectly shaped as I would have liked, but overall I think they turned out to be adorable!

Maybe I'll aim for heart-shaped ones for Valentine's Day...

I linked up to:

quinoa

I love trying new foods!
I haven't always been so open to new foods, but in the past few years I have become much more adventurous in trying new foods.

My newest favorite is quinoa (pronounced keen-wah).
Quinoa is a seed similar to a grain and is a complete protein source.
It is high in fiber, phosphorus, magnesium, & iron.
Basically, it's good for you!
And, I think it tastes great.

Here's the 1st recipe we tried using quinoa:

Quinoa Stir-Fry

3/4 cup quinoa, rinsed

1/2 teaspoons salt, divided

1 tbsp. vegetable oil

1 small carrot, thinly sliced

1 medium red bell pepper, chopped

2 tsp. grated ginger

1 clove garlic, sliced

1 small red chile, chopped

2 cups of snow peas

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1 egg, beaten

4 ounces of grilled chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces

2 scallions, chopped

1/2 cup cilantro

1 tbsp. soy sauce

Place quinoa in saucepan with 3/4 cup of water and 1/4 tsp. of salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover & cook, without stirring, until quinoa absorbs all of the water (10-15 mins.). Remove from heat, fluff with a fork & leave uncovered. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook carrot until it softens after about 2 mins. Add the bell pepper, ginger, garlic, and chile. Cook, stirring frequently, for 2-3 minutes. Add peas and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt and pepper and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove vegetables from skillet. Return skillet to heat and add quinoa and egg. Cook and stir frequently until the egg is evenly distributed. Add the vegetables, chicken, scallions, cilantro, and soy sauce to the skillet and cook for 2 minutes.

Enjoy!

P.S. You can find quinoa at health food stores, Trader Joes, & the organic/health food section at many grocery stores.

spring-yes, please!

Happy Groundhog Day!!!

Yes, yes, yes...no shadow=spring is just around the corner.
I'm not wholly convinced seeing as how it was flurrying this morning as I was driving to work and our high is 34 degrees.

I'm itching for flip-flop weather...

Come on spring!!!

learning to be still.

"Be still and know that I am God." -Psalms 46:10

I've never been good at being still...
not physically, not mentally, not spiritually

I'm much more of a get up & get things taken care of sort of person.
Until recently, I've never considered this to be anything but a good thing.
God has forced me to spend more time lately being still and just thinking.
In my reflections, I have realized how God has been so faithful to me especially in the times when I was the least faithful to Him.

I think about the place I was at this time last year:
knowing that we were moving to Nashville, knowing we were going to have to sell the house that we loved, knowing I was going to have to leave my job that I loved so much it didn't even seem like work, knowing we would have to leave behind the friends we had made in our 5 years there, etc.
To put it simply, I loved our life the way it was & I didn't want it to change.

Looking back I wish I could say that I trusted God 100% and fully knew that He was going to get me through this.
But, I didn't...
I doubted, questioned, and doubted some more.
And, then I ran around & tried to handle business on my own.

A whole year later, I look at the place God has brought us to:
we were able to sell our house in tough economic times, we each have a job that we love, I have amazing co-workers, a new church that we love, a place to live, new friends, new professional opportunities, a little closer to our families in GA, etc.

The only words that come to mind are:
"Great is thy faithfullness,
great is thy faithfullness,
morning by morning new mercies I see,
all I have needed thy hand has provided,
great is thy faithfullness, Lord unto me."

This year, I'm resolving to:
trust God more,
worry less,
and to be still in His faithfulness.

"The Lord will fight for you. You need only to be still."

-Exodus 14:14

new year, new look!

A new year warrants a new look to the blog.

I love it!

(P.S.-Yes, I am supposed to be writing...my deadline is just 16 days away & there's still lots do to. But hey, I needed a break!)

S-N-O-W (Again...)!

Yes friends it has snowed yet again...
I've never in my life seen so much snow in such a short period of time.

Snow is pretty, but when it interferes with my daily life it gets old fast.

It snowed Sunday night, flurried yesterday, flurried today, and our highs tomorrow & Thursday are 24 & 26. I think the snow is here to stay for the week!

It is very pretty though...

(the scene in the back yard status-post our 3pm snowball fight!)

I think I might be ready for spring...