Pay It Forward!

I got this idea from a stranger's blog, and I just love it! The first THREE people to comment on this post will receive a little handmade something from me- the only catch is that you have to be willing to pay it forward in some way!

*UPDATED* You don't have to pay it forward in the same way I am! Just promise to do something nice for someone else at some point in the next 365 days! =)

I have lots of fun things to update on (including my new sewing machine- C, it was a GREAT deal and super easy to use for a beginner like me!), but I can't find my camera battery to take pictures of them...hmm...so I thought it would be a great time to post this challenge instead!

So c'mon now, don't be shy...you don't have to be a blogger to leave a comment. I'll announce the winners as soon as the posts start coming in!

The Grocery Game: week one

Okay, here it goes...thanks to C, I signed up for the Grocery Game...and thanks to the curiosity from Mandy, I'm now going to document my savings. :)

The basic idea of this thing is you pay for a list of advertised and unadvertised sales at your local grocery store (you put in your zip code and it tells you what store lists are available in your area. I like to shop the produce stand and a couple of local, small grocery stores in our town, but for the purposes of this trial, I'm shopping at Safeway). In addition to the list that tells you what's on sale, it also tells you where to look in the Sunday paper for coupons to add to the savings. In some cases, when something is on sale and you also use a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon, you can get an item for free!

This week, I saved $50 off my grocery bill with the combined savings of the store sales and coupons. I think I'll save more in the future because this week's list wanted me to use coupons from the Sunday paper of the last few weeks, where I only had the ones from the most current issue. A couple of the best deals I got were on meat- NINE huge natural top sirloin steaks for $14! That's the price I usually pay for two! I also bought 4 organic chicken thighs for $2! That's more than half off.

I have to admit, I was a little clumsy this time, making sure I pulled out each coupon as I selected a product so I wouldn't have to go through the coupon file at the register...but it was pretty cool to watch the cashier scan all the coupons and the total kept going down and down!

The main idea of this thing is to stockpile products...it's helpful to have a freezer and a place to put extra dry foods, so that when you have a coupon for 10/$10, you buy all ten items and then don't have to buy them again for a long time.

I'm looking forward to keeping this up...all my friends who are doing this are saving a lot more than me, so I'm hopeful that next week will be even better!

On a side note, it's nice to get the Seattle Times on Sunday...it was fun to sit with my coffee, peruse the paper and clip my coupons....wait, that sounds SOOOOO lame...who have I become? Clipping coupons?!

Sigh.

A couple things...

1. I will hopefully have really exciting news on the job-front very soon!

2. I am going to be walking in my graduate commencement this weekend! Yay! I'm so excited! Even though I officially graduated in December, actually walking across the stage will feel so good!

3. Thanks to many people, including blogger friend C, I signed up for the Grocery Game today. Even though it's only me and the hubby at this point, I love to cook and entertain, and eat organically as much as possible...so we spend probably at least $100 a week on groceries. I wasn't convinced that this would help me save money on the things we like to eat, but I just got my first list today, and it's full of organic items, fresh produce and meat! So we'll see! I won't shop til Sunday, so I'll let you know how it goes!

An ode to some of the raddest moms out there...

To my mama: You are the most fun, loving, and kind mom a gal could ask for. Your vitality and love for "doing things" :) energizes me.  I love to laugh with you. I'm so glad that we have so many things in common- I love hanging out with you! Thank you for always being present in my life and loving me in the way that only a mom can!

Susan: Your creativity inspires me. I love coming over to see what new project you've been working on. You raised an incredible son that I now gladly call my husband. He is is loving and attentive- the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! :) Thank you for welcoming me into your family!

Auntie Vicki: You are so fun. When I think of you, I can hear your laugh in my head- it's contagious! You have raised two great kids who are on their way! I love your emails and phone calls- they encourage me and brighten my day...our relationship is a special one to me!

Auntie Cindy (with an "I"): I love that you let me play with your hair and makeup, trusting that I won't make you look like Cher...or that crazy TV evangelist lady. You are such a strong woman and have given so much of yourself to raise great children. I respect you so very much for that and I love spending time with you.

Auntie Jessi: You're the best! You are SO fun and always make me laugh. Thank you for always being so encouraging and wanting to know what's going on in my life. Oh yea, and thanks for letting me drive your Maxima to learn how to drive a stick...I'm still not very good. :)

Toni: Your spirit is strong and and is such a present force in my life and so many others. Your love for life and people is something I aspire to everyday. Though you call another place home now, you gave your all as you lived and you will always be in my heart. We miss you.

Tisa: You are my friend, my sister...but also a wonderful mother with your boys. You've always had a "get up and go" way about you, and I love that. I love that we both need lattes at about 2pm, and that I can come to you and be who I truly am. You are loved.

Umm...I just ate two helpings of ice cream. Is that bad? Afterall, it is "light" ice cream.

Just checking in...

I have to just pop out of the pile of sweats and blankets and kleenex I've been under for the last 5 days to give a "shout out" to my fabulous husband. I've been so sick and feeling really guilty about not being at work, and he has taken such good care of me. He has picked up dinner, groceries and is so sweet when I ask him to bring me more kleenex, more nose spray, more cranberry juice (there...that should enlighten you as to ALL my ailments). I have to stop myself sometimes to be thankful- even for sick days. I'm lucky enough to be able to call in sick to work, lucky to be able to just take care of myself and no one else for a few days. I know in the future with kids and such, this will be harder and more stressful...but for now, I think it's very possible to be positive in this state. Okay, off to take a nap. *sniff, cough, sniff*

Through my kitchen window...

One worded answers

Anyone else up for this one? :-)

1. Where is your cell phone?....... kitchen
2. Your significant other? ........... handy
3. Your hair? ............................... long
4. Your mom?.......................... optimistic
5. Your dad? ............................ fine
6. Your favorite thing? .................. sunshine
7. Your dream last night?.............. husband :)
8. Your favorite drink?.................... coffee
9. Your dream/goal?.................. mother
10. The room you're in?................ family
11. Your hobby?........................... cooking
12. Your fear?............................... strangers
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years?....... home
14. Where were you last night?...... nap
15. What you're not?...................... skinny :)
16. Muffins?.................................. yum
17. One of your wish list items?....... bling
18. Where you grew up?................ FW
19. The last thing you did?............... dinner
20. What are you wearing?.............. sweats
21. Your TV? ................................. Juno
22. Your pets?............................... ah-choo!
23. Your computer?........................ Mac
24. Your life?.................................. blessed
25. Your mood?.............................. anxious
26. Missing someone?.................... friends
27. Your car?.................................. Honda
28. Something you're not wearing? ..... earrings
29. Favorite store?........................ World Market
30. Your summer?......................... free!
31. Like someone?.......................... always
32. Your favorite color...................... blue
33. When is the last time you laughed? today
34. Last time you cried?.................. hmm...
35. Who will resend this? ................ bloggers?

Boys will be boys...

So, do any other blogger wives out there have to share their hubbies with video games like I do? Hmm...so many of you have kids, so I kinda doubt it. Where's my support group?! Today was a very important day in our home...Grand Theft Auto 4 just came out and Mark, my brother, and our good friend Branden came over to share in the glory of the first play together. Even though this is such a violent, not-ok-for-kids kind of game (luckily, we have none yet!) I have to say, watching the bonding between these boys is pretty fun. They are so excited about playing this game together that it helps me to forgive the hours they play, the language that streams from their mouths when it is on, and the really gross snacks they choose to devour while basking in this other world. Sigh.

*This is my 3rd post today- check below for more!*

It's been documented...

I made Mark do a mask...and use face cream. I think he liked it- what do you think?

Catching up...

It has been a busy week in the Pearson home- below is a pic from the night we celebrated my mom's 39th birthday...we dined at a delicious restaurant on the water and had a fabulous time laughing, looking at the view, and talking about my mom's upcoming "graduation" from the teaching profession.

Meet a few new members of the Pearson family. We've always been a charcoal grill gang, but having a gas grill is so much easier and convienient...we bought one over the weekend and have used it 4 times this week already!

Funny, even though we have a large yard with plenty of room for a vegetable garden (which I do want to start someday), I feel intimidated by the amount of time it takes to maintain such produce...so, I decided I'd start some fresh herbs (lemon thyme, basil and cilantro) and a tomato plant right outside my back door. I've read in my new Organic Gardening magazine (great, by the way!) that for beginners, grape tomatoes are the place to start. They are just smaller and it's apparently so much easier to get used to how to care for them. We shall see! I'm envisioning salads and pastas tossed with my fresh herbs and tomatoes all summer! Who wants to join us for dinner, al fresco?

It was so beautiful outside tonight, Mark, my brother and I ate outside on the patio! I made homemade tortilla soup along with some spicy barbequed shrimp (YUM-O!)- the spicy stuff is a theme lately with Mark and my brother...it's weird, but I suppose I'm glad they are addicted to seeing how much spice they can handle than, say, gambling or something...whatev- and we sipped gin n' tonics...so fresh and delicious! Can't wait for more warm evenings!