saving $ is fun!

above are pictures from my best coupon trip. i spent $25 for all of the items!!! normally it would have cost over $62.

for the past 3 months i have been infatuated with saving money. we absolutely can't afford not to use coupons!!! i seriously had no idea we could save so much money. it takes me about 1-2 hours/week to make a grocery list and clip all the coupons. i wouldn't be able to do so well if it wasn't for southern savers. the crazy thing is, i am not even that good at it yet and we have saved well over $300. there are stories i read frequently about ladies who spend no more than $5 on $200 worth of groceries. ahhh-mazing!!! i want to be that good!

faq: (i feel silly even answering these because i really am just beginning to learn how to do it; i mainly refer people straight to southern savers!!!)

• where do you get all the coupons? the sunday newspaper, online - coupons are all over the place! the best online site is coupons.com, "All You" Magazine (if you hurry, go to southern savers and get a 2 year subscription for $16. the deal is good until 10pm on july 31. normally the magazine costs $2.24/monthly issue.), southern savers has links to several coupons.
• do you buy things only on sale? yeah, pretty much. there are certain things that we need each week that are non-negotiable (i.e. soymilk for kelly since he is lactose intolerant and some fruits and veggies). i know that the whole goal is to buy large quantites of items when they are on sale and you have coupons for them. that way you have a stockpile that will last you until the next time they go on sale.
• where do you shop? i stick to publix. publix takes all the competitors coupons - even the drugstore coupons like rite aid, walgreens, cvs. i know several couponers go to multiple places to get the best deals. maybe i will get to that at some point. for now, i am only able to go to one store since our transportation is limited with only one vehicle.

i will try to update this blog frequently with my grocery purchases. i was getting groceries once every two weeks. i have now begun to get them once/week so i won't miss out on any good deals. our grocery budget is $50/week. last week i came in under budget at $47. woo hoo!

seriously, if you have tips that i should know when it comes to saving money, please tell me. i will aprreciate it a whole bunch!

speechless

lately it seems that i am coming across so many huge situations with a number of different people where i am at a total loss as to what to say. i want to be an encouragement to them but the circumstances are heavy and leave me speechless. i have thought, "all i can do is just pray." but, is it really "just" prayer? no. i am reminded that prayer is calling upon the God of this whole universe, who, in His divine providence will work out these situations for the good of those who love Him. i am helpless; i will always call upon the One who is all powerful, loving, full of grace, kindness and justice.

separation anxiety?

i am hoping hunter isn't suffering from separation anxiety. ever since he was 6 weeks old he has been in the nursery and does just fine. the past 2 sunday's at church he has screamed his head off in the nursery. we have a night service that ends a bit past his bedtime which contributes to the fussiness. the first bad sunday he cried for about 20 minutes towards the end of the service. last night, he cried for about 45 minutes and they finally came and got me. it is so unlike him. normally he is very chill and doesn't mind other people holding him or watching him.

all of a sudden, hunter has now begun to prefer mommy so much. yes, it makes me feel good. but, what do i do when he screams in the nursery? i mean, i can't make the volunteers deal with his crying for an hour and a half. not to mention, it is so loud that all the other kids and classrooms have to deal with the noise. if the volunteers continue to come and get me during the service hunter will recognize the pattern and continue to cry so he can get mommy. i also help out with the service and often may not be able to get him (he is my priority, though!). what to do? i am thinking that maybe if i work in the nursery a few nights, he might get over this? or, do i just let him start out in the nursery and hope that he does okay and if not, have them come get me in hopes of him growing out of this?

who knows, maybe this won't happen again, but i am afraid that is just wishful thinking. so, all you moms out there that have had a similar problem, fill me in! thanks!

happy tales to me

i gave my blog a makeover! i still have a few more things to add (especially my blogroll!), but overall this has been so much fun. my blog is finally the cute that i want it to be. now on to blogging about the usual: motherhood, wifehood, couponing, following Christ, and just plain life. happy tales to me!

welcome to blogger.

i took the plunge. i made the switch. i left wordpress. i forsook all my old entries, posts, and comments in an attempt to get a better blog. it all began as i attempted to design my own blog, but it wasn't compatible with wordpress. then i began to research blog designers and realized that all designs do not work with wordpress. some of them work with premium wordpress (you have to pay an annual fee), but overall, good blog designs only work with blogger. i was craving a super cute blog; i am now a blogger and my blog is about to get cute.

if only...

…I knew how to be content. Maybe its just me (please tell me its not ), or maybe its because I’m human, but it seems that I always find myself saying “if only.” You know, the “grass is greener” mentality. My “if only’s” right now (they are very small things, indeed!):

-If only I had a car, then I wouldn’t be stuck at home…my life would be easier and more enjoyable.

-If only we had more money, then I wouldn’t get so stressed going grocery shopping or paying our bills…my life would be easier and more enjoyable.

There have been many different “if only’s” throughout my life. -Some big, some small. With each one, I always learn a lesson about contentment. If only I could really get that lesson of contentment nailed down…my life would be easier and more enjoyable .

Most of all, I am always reminded that true contentment is found ONLY in Christ and His provision of grace. If I am really going to enjoy life, then my hope should rest not in this life but in the life to come. And obviously, for as long as we walk on this earth, things aren’t going to be easy. After all, God, in His divine providence gives us hardships – some small and some big and often both, at different points in life – to make us desire our home in Heaven all the more.

2 Corinthians 9:8, ESV
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency[1] in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
[1]Or all contentment

2 Corinthians 12:10, ESV
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Philippians 4:11, ESV
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

1 Timothy 6:6, ESV
Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment…

1 Timothy 6:8, ESV
But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

Hebrews 13:5, ESV
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”