Chase needs a Stunt Double

We were at Loretta Lynn's back in early April like we are every Spring and Fall when they open their dirtbike trails for a weekend ride. It is a Peeler Family bi-annual tradition complete with campfires, bonding, and most importantly dirtbikes. As you all probably know I don't do dirtbikes, so good thing the camper has satellite TV. :)

This weekend at Loretta's started off like any other- Chase took off work on Friday so he could go down early, and I came down later Friday evening after work (and getting my hair done!) We ate dinner, Chase did the night ride (which he finished 1st, even though it is not a race), hung out a little while, then hit the sack for the early morning riders meeting.

They all got up Saturday morning in time for the 8:30 riders meeting, we ate breakfast, and then they all got ready to head out for the first ride of the day. I stayed at the camper to hold down the fort. It had been about 30-45 minutes and I look across our camp site and notice Chase and Uncle Dane are back. I thought it was weird that they were back this soon but, I just thought maybe someone had left something, or messed something up on their bike, but didn't really think anything about it. A few minutes later I looked back over to see where Chase was thinking it was weird he hasn't come over to tell me why he was back so soon. I see him doubled over.....

Let me just take the time here to tell you as long as I have known Chase, he has NEVER hurt himself riding dirtbikes. A few bumps and bruises every now and then, but nothing serious. Not that he is super cautious or an awesome rider, he just knows his limits, and doesn't push it. Not to mention he has the top of the line safety gear (Thanks to his momma and daddy!). I never worry about him when he rides, or get nervous when he wrecks because it has always been ok. With that being said....

I get up and walk over there to see what is going on. Again, not at all worried....

Me- Ouch... What did you do
Chase- (still doubled over) I hit a tree
Me- Well I'd say you did, that's going to leave a mark.
Uncle Dane- I'm going to call the medics up here.
Chase- No, I'm fine.

I'm thinking "Yeah... he is fine.... but maybe not a bad idea to have the medic look at him."

By this time word had traveled about what had happened to Chase and there was quite a crowd beginning to gather.

Me- still not worried.....

Then I hear people start saying words like "hospital", "ambulance", "internal bleeding", "broken ribs", etc.  But these people are not doctors... what do they know? He is fine. He is walking, talking, assuring me (and probably more himself) that he is fine. Everyone is over reacting.

About that time the medics get there and Chase gets up and I see this MONSTER of a knot on his lower back, right about the area of his left kidney that giggled when he walked and I about lost it. First I got very nauseous, so I squatted down and tried to compose myself. A few seconds later I stood back up and immediately got dizzy and broke out in a cold sweat. So I quickly sit down on the ground with my head between my knees. I'm thinking- "Great Anna Marie, just great... quit showing out... don't draw attention to yourself...take deep breaths... don't pass out... maybe people will think you are praying." When I finally think I might have it together I get up and start walking towards the air conditioned camper, and everything starts getting black. About the time I reach the door my vision is gone and I feel my way into the camper and lay on the cold linoleum floor.

Ugh! I am so mad at myself... Chase needs me, and I am wreck. I have always like gory things. I loved assisting in oral surgery, or watching a bone graft in perio. But this... this was Chase... not just some stranger.... This was my husband!

After about 5 minutes of laying in the camper hiding, trying to compose myself, the door opens and it is Mrs. Claudia- She is coming to get a cold rag. I tell her I'll get it and bring it out. This gives me an excuse of why I was in the camper :)

I get up- splash cold water on my face- give myself a pep talk in the mirror- get a cold rag- and head outside.

Sorry I have no idea what happened once the medics got there- I was having an episode...

I go out to see Chase on the other side of the road under a shade tree in one of those fully reclining zero gravity lawn chairs with a swarm of people around him. When I get over there they are just starting an IV of fluids. (SIDE NOTE: they hung the IV bag from the tree with a carabeaner... looking back that is really funny, at the time- I could have cared less) There was a lot of talking going on- people talking about ambulances and hospitals, and I even think some one said something about life flighting him... And Chase was just kept saying "I'm fine"- "No, I don't need to go to the hospital"- "I feel fine"- "Really, I'm ok!"

Yeah, he's fine people.... but now a little worried

I was trying to zone everyone out and concentrate on what the medics were saying back and forth. They were taking his vitals...

Medic one: 62
Medic two looks at the other one worried....
Me: His pulse is always low, he exercises a lot and is in very good shape
Chase: Yeah, It's usually in the high 50's
Medic one: 114/76

I immediately tried to use what medical knowledge I knew and dissect what that meant... Ok- If he was bleeding internally his blood pressure would be low and his pulse would be high. He's normal- so that's good. Wait, Right?

Medic: Ok everything looks normal, let me take a look at your back...

WHEW! Everything is ok... See People... he is fine...

Medic: I dont like the way that looks, let's call the ambulance.
Now I'm officially worried
Chase: I'm fine! I don't need to go to the hospital.

So I squat down next to Chase's to talk to him:
Me- "Your fine, your vitals are normal, and if you were bleeding internally then your blood pressure would be low and your pulse high, but..."
Chase- I know, I know, but do you know how expensive this is going to be?
Me- Well, hunny we have to make sure you are ok... it will be ok...

Seriously... Your thinking about money in a time like this?!?!?!?!

After talking to him now, we were both thinking the same thing- You hear lots of stories about people saying they are ok when they are really not. You know... walking and talking one minute, and the next they are gone. But neither one of us was going to tell the other one that.

I call mom and fill her in on what going on and tell her to pass the word on so people could start praying. Up to this point I hadn't cried, but when I heard my momma's voice I just lost it! She asked me if I wanted her to come up, and I told her no, he's fine, but they want to take him to the hospital "just to be safe".

About the time I got off the phone the ambulance got there. The EMT's were in no hurry.... so that was comforting... if there was something bad wrong, they would be in a hurry. BUT then they took one look at him and said they wanted to life flight him to Vanderbilt... I LOST IT! -You don't just life-flight someone to Vanderbilt. Really sick people go to Vanderbilt. Critically hurt people get life-flighted. You don't JUST life-flight someone to Vanderbilt... At this point I was Terrified! It was one thing for people who weren't in the medical field want to take him to the hospital, but for someone who knows what they are looking at to want to LIFE-FLIGHT him to VANDERBILT... Oh man, did I loose it!

I called mom back to fill her in, she asked me if I wanted her to come up, I said yes... I needed my momma...

So there we were... the ambulance was strapping him in on one of those boards to load him up to take him to the helicopter. I couldn't think straight....  I heard someone say something about insurance... Oh yeah... get your insurance card dummy! I ran to find my purse... not in the camper- it must be in the truck- trucks locked- where are the keys- where are the keys- find the keys, unlock the truck- get my purse- go back over to where Chase is...

Trying to be as composed as possible, I ask him if he wants be to bring anything... Looking back that was stupid! Like he would know?!?!

Chase's dad asked me if I was going to ride with them to the hospital. I hadn't even thought about how I was going to get there? I guess I assumed I was riding with Chase, but then I was told I could not go in the helicopter. So Yes, yes I do want to ride with you. I ran and got in the truck. I was buckled in and ready to go even before Chase was even loaded in the ambulance. Looking back, I wish I would have been right there with him until they had him loaded, because he said... "I was looking around to tell you bye, but I couldn't find you." That broke my heart! He wanted me, I wasn't there.... Next time (hopefully there won't be a next time, but if there is) I will be there.

Chase's mom and dad and I get loaded in the truck and head toward Nashville... We get on the interstate and the GPS says "continue sixty-four miles".  64 miles! Are you kidding me! This was going to be the longest 64 miles of my life....

I got on my phone to pass the time and I texted just about EVERYONE in my address book. I stayed busy texting most of the way there to try to keep my mind off of what was going on and the what-if's. It was terrible not knowing... I didn't know if he was ok, or not, and I had no way of finding out... I was a hot mess...

We got to Vanderbilt relatively quickly (Mr. Rick should have been a NASCAR driver), and he dropped  us off at the door to the emergency room. We ran in and in a panic frenzy and were throwing words at the guy behind the counter- "Chase Peeler" "life-flight" "Loretta Lynns" Dirtbikes"... He calmly asked... How old is he... "TWENTY-FOUR!" Ma'am, you are in the pediatric emergency room, you will need to go out these doors, go left...... That was all we heard, everything else sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher...

And we were off! Running around the outside of Vanderbilt's Hospital trying to find the emergency room... OK seriously Vanderbilt- you need to have better signs! As were are frantically looking for the emergency room entrance we saw a helicopter land. "I bet that's Chase" "No-way I bet he is already here." NOPE! because as we were trying to get through the metal detectors at the entrance of the emergency room my phone rings, and it is the nurse from the helicopter...
Nurse: Mrs Peeler?
Me: YES!
Nurse: This is Nurse such-in-such from medi-vac....
Me: HOW'S CHASE?!?!?!?!?!?
Security guard at the entrance: Ma'am- Your going to need to....
Me- (throwing my purse in the bucket) OK!!!!
Nurse: Ma'am, he is ok, we just unloaded him, and you will be able to find his room at the emergency room check in.
Security Guard: Ma'am- I am going to need you to put your phone......
Me: SO HE IS OK?, HE IS ALERT?, HE MADE IT FINE?!?!?!
***Security Guard motions me on though the metal detecter, even though it continues to go off because I am on the phone...***
Nurse: Yes, Ma'am- he made it fine
Me: THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! click...

All of those bad things that I thought could have happened didn't! He made it ok!

Mrs Claudia had already found out what room he was in and got our 2 visitor stickers and gave one to me and we headed back while I filled her in on what the nurse had said.

We walked into the room and I ran up to him and he smiled and said "Hey!" I had never been to happy to hear that words in my life!!! He said they told him they planned on doing a cat scan to check his organs, but everything seems to be ok.

PRAISE GOD! It was like some one had lifted this huge weight off me and I could finally breath again.

He continued to joke around for a while telling us all about his ride, and him asking them how bad his was cause he need to know how hard to pray. HA! That's my boy! :)

They got him back pretty quickly to do the cat scan, but once they did that and realized he was fine, they were in no hurry. And Chase was very agitated that he could not eat, drink, sit up, take the neck brace off, etc.

The three of us (Chase's mom, dad, and I) switched out the visitor passes and tried to pass the time. When mom go there, she got us something to eat at McDonalds. We sat there 6 long hours. Waiting on a neurologist to read his cat scan... a Radiologist to read his x-ray, a specialist to look a his spine... etc

Here are a few snap shots I took after I found out he was ok.

 When they were finally ready to release him the nice nurse said, "OK, Mr. Peeler, I'll leave you to get dressed then I will meet you at the nurses station so we can get you out of here." Chase and I looked at each other, then he told her- "They cut all my clothes off of me, all I have is spandex and socks" HA!
So she went and got him "paper scrubs".... NICE!

Then slowly... ever so slowly... we walked out of the hospital with a hematoma and a chipped T-12 vertebrae. GOD IS GOOD!

Here are a few pictures of the healing process.

And there was a lot of this going on....

And the new protective vest

The Big Easy

Chase and I have a list of cities we want to go see, and since my boss was going to take a few days off in late March we decided to mark off one of those cities... New Orleans.

New Orleans was on the top of our list because it was a relatively cheap and close trip you could do over a long weekend. We have lots of family and friends that have been down there and everyone seemed to love it, and we got lots of great tips and "don't miss" lists. And the major plus... you can ride the train down there from Memphis! Neither one of us had ever ridden a train before so we thought that would be a lot more fun then making the long drive fighting over whose turn it was to drive.

We drove to Memphis after work on Tuesday and got up REALLY early Wednesday morning to go catch the train to New Orleans.  We loved the train ride! It was about an 8 hour ride but it went by so fast. You had tons of leg room, reclining chairs, all kinds of snacks and goodies (thanks mom and dad!), movies on the laptop, you could get up and go to the lounge car or the observation deck when ever you wanted to, not to mention we both slept the majority of the way down there. :)

---SIDE NOTE: I planned on making a written itinerary for us on the train ride down there, but Chase asked me very nicely not to "schedule" our whole trip. "Let's just be spontaneous, and do things when we want to do them." This is REALLY hard for me. I want to plan everything out so that we don't miss anything, and we can maximize our time and money. So we did not have a written itinerary, but that didn't keep me from thinking about it and having a mental list :)

We arrived in the Big Easy about 3, and caught a cab to our hotel in the French Quarter. We unloaded our bags and headed out for an early oyster dinner at Acme (which really turned out to be a late lunch, since we ate another dinner much later that evening :)...)

 Then we walked Bourbon Street for a little bit and ran across this guy, that I thought was super cool so I took my picture with him.

And come to find out he is a New Orleans icon... he is even pictured on the front of there tourist magazine....

Then it was on to Pat O'Brien's for their infamous hurricanes :) YUM!

We left Pat O's and just took in all the sights (and smells) of the night life on Bourbon Street. I can not count how many times we walked from one end of Bourbon Street to the other. We would people watch for a while then go into stores and look around then people watch some more.

 We ended up back by the hotel, and decided we were hungry so opted for Felix's before we turned in for the night. This was Chase's first time to eat Crawfish, and we got a very humorous lesson of how to "pinch the head, and suck the tail"

Oh... and see the name tag I have on... we crashed a 20 year high school reunion... :)

Then it was time to call it a night....

DAY 2:

I am an early riser, so when I couldn't get Chase out of the bed I went and laid out by the pool for a couple of hours Thursday morning (this was not on my agenda, but probably the reason he did not want an agenda). I was finally able to pull Chase out of the bed by about noon and we headed down to Cafe Du Monde for beignets. Yum! Then it was off to the French Market to see if there was anything we could not live with out. All we got was some dried fruit and pickled okra. We walked around  the French Quarter most of the rest of the afternoon seeing must sees like the moon walk along the river, the voodoo shop from the capital one commercials, a horse drawn carriage tour, etc

Here are some highlights...

We got to see the Google Earth car! Look for us on the corner of Decatur and Toulouse.

Chase paid $10 to have his brand new tennis shoes shinned.

We even saw an impromptu parade by a local school band

Then we went back to the hotel to freshen up for dinner then Bourbon Street.

We spent most of that night in a country bar called the Bourbon Cowboy where Chase got to ride a bull!

 

DAY 3:

We woke up late our last full day there and went to eat breakfast at Mena's place, then did more touristy sight seeing the rest of the day. We took the trolly ride down canal street, walked down to the old cemeteries to take our own cemetery tour, and we toured the 1850 House. We ran into an old friend we had not seen since high school, Austin, and his girlfriend Jill, who were there for a wedding. Such a small world!

We went back to the room, relaxed, and napped, hopping to stay out late our last night. Around dinner time we headed out to eat some some traditional New Orleans food like gumbo, jambalya, and poboys, and I wanted to sit on a balcony so we could people watch. People watching in New Orleans is the best!

After dinner we walked bourbon street again and came across a really neat street show. They were break dancers that had once tried out for the TV show America's Got Talent. Check it out!

We decided to meet our long lost friends at a piano bar called Howl at the Moon later that night. We spent most of that night catching up with them. 

Turns out they were staying off Decatur Street in on of her friends apartment that used to be the Princess of France's apartment! How Cool, right?!?! So we had to go and see it. Sorry, no pictures... but I thought  I might have come off a little creepy if I was taking pictures of this girls apartment. But, trust me- this place was amazing!!!! Huge vaulted ceilings with at least 2 feet of hand carved crown molding, luscious court yard, slave quarters they were renovating into additional bed rooms, and huge balconies. I could just go on and on... It is absurd to be that people have THAT much money! After a long night of reminiscing we headed back to our loley hotel room :) Oh, and Bourbon Street late on a Friday Night it quite a sight to see! :)

DAY 4:

  

We had to catch our train around lunch time, so we got up for a late breakfast at a little place in the french market since we were headed that way anyway to get a mufaletta to-go for the train ride back home. We went back to the room, finished up packing and headed out to the train station. The ride back seemed much longer for some reason, but still- riding the train was an adventure in itself. We much preferred riding the train to flying. Back to Memphis it was- then back home on Sunday.

Chase and I both had a really, really good time in New Orleans, it is one of our favorite vacations we have ever been on. Even with out a written schedule and itenaray we got to see, do, eat, and drink everything we wanted to. Maybe I'll try it again on our next vacation, just maybe...

You know your a grown-up when...

You know you are a grown up when.... You get SUPER excited about new appliances!!!

Ever since Chase and I moved into this house we had planned on up dating our kitchen with new appliances. Other than the fridge, all the appliances were original to the house in 1987. The oven cooked so unevenly that I would set the timer for 1/2 the cook time so I could turn the dish, then cook it the other half... the eyes of the stove were very uneven, and I lovingly called the dishwasher the dish sanitizer because you had to put clean dishes in it to be sanitized.

We had been saving a while, and it finally came time in February to buy our first new appliance, a stove. To put it lightly I was VERY excited. My parents were coming up that weekend, and offered to help us put it in and take the old one back for their church yard sale. So after work on Friday, Chase and I went to the Sears scratch and dent place to pick out our new stove, and I was like a kid in a candy store. I wasn't very picky at all, I just wanted a white one with a smooth cook top. There were a quite a few that met my criteria, but of course we just went with the cheapest (which happened to leave us a little extra money). We loaded it up, and headed home. Mom, dad, Mary Leigh, and Nick came over Saturday to help us install it. While my electric engineer of a brother-on-law was there I sweet talked him into wiring an outlet under our sink for a garbage disposal. That turned to into a lot bigger of a project then anticipated. A very long (and very technical) story short, we had to pull out the dishwasher to to do. And I thought, while we have it out, why to replace it too?!?!?! After much debate I convinced Chase it was a good idea not go ahead and get a replace it too!!!! So, off to the store we went. :)

So in one day we got a new stove and dishwasher!!! Oh happy day!!! It was like Christmas in February! It made our kitchen look much better, and I could stop going in the kitchen just to look at them.

Old Dishwasher (on move in day)

New Dishwasher

Old Stove

New Stove

BIRD!

So I had been planning on recapping the year from the beginning in chronological order, but something happened to me today that warrants an immediate post....

Let me set the stage for you....

Today I worked a half day like I do every other Monday so I can pick Bates up from MDO. On my way from Franklin to his school I stopped by the house to grab his car seat and my to-do list I left on the kitchen counter. I was kind of in a hurry so I quickly jumped out of the car, unlocked the door, and ran inside. I went to the counter where my to-do list was and I hear a rustling noise coming from the den, so I freeze to see if I hear it again..... Yup there it was again. I peep around the corner to check it out and... I don't see any thing. I turn back to grab my list and there it was again. So I peep around the corner again (a little freaked out) and I see a shadow in the window... Here are the next few things that go through my head as I am frozen staring at the window...

1. There is a squirrel on the window seal outside... (then the shadow moves up, and makes a rather loud rustling noise)
2. Oh, it must a bird stuck between the screen and the window... (then a wing pops out between the slats of the blinds)
3. OMG!!!! The bird is INSIDE!

Now I am frozen in terror, what to do.... what to do.... what to do...

About that time the bird cranes it neck out from behind the blinds and gives me an "I'm going to pluck your eyes out" stare. So now, here we are having a staring contest... I let him win, because I bolt back in the kitchen grab my phone (then notice the bird poo all over the kitchen and the plant knocked out of the window seal about the sink) and start to head out the door. And just about that time the bird takes flight and makes a bee-line into the kitchen. I scream bloody murder thinking he really IS coming to pluck my eyes out so I cower down in the corner by the fridge and cover my face. I peek through my fingers just in time to see him SLAM into a mirror, then fall to the ground and proceed to flop around like a FOOL!
THIS IS MY CHANCE TO ESCAPE!!!!

I run out the back door and call Chase... This is how that conversation went...
Me- THERE IS A BIRD IN OUR HOUSE!!!!!!
Chase- Do what?
Me- THERE IS A BIRD IN OUR HOUSE!!!!!!
Chase- a what?
Me- A BIRD!!!..... THERE IS A BIRD IN OUR HOUSE!!!!!!
Chase- ok, call Adam (our neighbor)... No, I'll call Adam- but go back inside and open all the windows.
Me- I AM NOT GOING BACK IN THERE!!!! NO WAY! THAT THING IS TRYING TO KILL ME!!!
Chase- really, really Anna Marie? It's a bird, he is probably more scared then you.
Me- UH... I really doubt that. But I am NOT going back in there.
Chase- Ok, I'll call Adam.

Thank goodness I left the keys in the door, so I could get the car seat out of the garage and still go get Bates. I get in the car and head out to get Bates, and Chase calls back. "Adam is stuck at work." Ok, I'll call Johnny (our contractor, the reason there are holes in our sealing and a bird got in).

After I get Bates I head back to the house to see if Johnny got the bird out. I pull in the drive way and he comes out and says "I don't see a bird. I have been all through the house and into the attic, and I don't see anything". Me- "REALLY.... I swear, look there is bird poo in my kitchen... There is a bird in there."

I don't know how, but the bird disappeared...

As soon as Johnny left, so did Bates and I- I just knew if I walked back in there that bird was going to dive bomb me.

So far, I have not seen the bird again... But here is my proof.... there really was a bird, well at the time is looked more like a Teradactal...

Now I am super paranoid every time I come in the house that I am going to get dive bombed.

Just call me Martha Stewart

When I was a teenager my momma (HI MOM!) taught me how to sew. I really enjoy sewing, well some times not so much the actually job of sewing but I love the ability to know how to make things- esp house things such as pillows and quilts, curtains, etc. Now don't get me wrong these aren't fancy things, some times they look "mammy made" as we call it, but other times my projects turn out quite nicely.  Now I feel it is time to dip into something a little different....

Growing up my mom used to smock us all kinds of outfits, and I would love to be able to do that for my kids. You know, not just buy a smocked outfit in a store where is was made in China, but really put MY hard work and MY love into a piece of clothing my kids can wear. Now don't get me wrong, I don't live in some fantasy world. I know they will care less whether I made it or not, it will probably be itchy and hot so I will have to fight them to get it on, and if I win and get it on them- they will probably spill juice all down the front of it. But I still want to... ok?

So one weekend back in March when I was in Memphis my mom and I sat down one Saturday and she taught me how to smock. She told me I picked it up pretty quick, and I was good at it (but moms have to say that). Whether I was good or not, when the design (and by design I mean straight line) started coming together I was really quite proud... Then it was on to the next lesson- how to make a zigzag line. Our lesson continued until I had the jest of how to create different designs and how those designs can turn in to pictures. Here is a picture of my work in progress

Some Day I will be able to make a cool design with picture on it, but right now I am sticking to lines :)

Since I "caught on so quick" mom also wanted to teach me how to knit "Ninny Dish Rags." My Ninny used to knit these dish rags and they are the best! Ninny taught mom, now mom is passing the legacy on the me :). Mom said it was easy, but I looked so uncoordinated trying to knit. Mom had to keep a careful eye on me, otherwise I would mess it up. At first it was really tightly knitted then it got really loosely knitted, then I was skipping knots all together. Needless to say it was not "easy" for me. After MUCH practice I finally thought I had the hang of it enough (and great youtube videos to watch) to keep practicing back home. After about 2 weeks of working on ONE stinkin' dish rag I finally got to the end. I was about to call mom to get her to walk me through how to "cast off" when I realized my dish rag looked more like a holy kite then a square dish rag.

 So my holy kite turned into this....

Take Two:

I must have miss out counted the knots or something, right?.... NOPE! Take Two looks a lot like Take One...

Who knows... I am going to keep working on this...

Chase Peeler- The Song Writer

I have been really trying to think of things that have been going on in the Peeler House since January, and I came across this post I made on Facebook that I just have to share. Hope you need a laugh :)


Chase singing along/above the radio: "I got a roof over my head, a dirtbike out in my shed, and it's alright, alright, I got shoes under my feet, and a labrador retriever staring back at me, and it's alright, alright, yeah, I got all I need and its alright by with me."
Me- "Where am I?", 
Chase- "You've got the the verses.... don't be selfish"


I just had to re-share this... The actual words for those who may not know the song are "I got a roof over my head, the women I love laying in my bed, and it's alright, alright, I got shoes under my feet, forever in her eyes staring back at me, and it's alright, alright, yeah, I got all I need and its alright by with me." So he totally replaced ME with a dirtbike and a dog. Thanks Hunny!... I love you too

Couponing 101

Last year I started trying my luck with couponing and to put it nicely, I SUCKED!!! I was the one spending 2 hours cutting coupons, driving all over town to save $.30, buying 4 gallons of grape juice because it is on sale, and then throwing it out because we don't even use it. I ended up wasting a lot of food, and probably spending more money then I really saved. So, I got bummed and quit. I kept hearing about people saving so much money couponing (mainly Mary Leigh), so the end of last year I caught the couponing bug again, but this time I was going to do my research and really learn how to get the most out of using coupons. 


I spent the better part of one weekend researching couponing. I read all kinds of articles on different couponing methods, the best way to get your coupons, the best places to use your coupons based on their policies, etc. I think I may have called Mary Leigh 14 million time to tell her something "amazing" I had learned about couponing that she probably already knew. I got "my system" (which is an aweful lot like Mary Leigh's :)...) down pat and starting picking up Sunday Papers.


This time I was bound and determined I WAS going to save money, and I was ONLY going to buy things we use....


It took a little while to get in the groove of things but I have really been doing a good job if I do say so myself. My goal is to save the same amount I spend, I don't usually do THAT well, but I do only buy things we will use, and I do save quite a bit of money.


Here's some highlights of the ones I have documented...


1/9/11- CVS- spent $33.68 saved $17.34, not so good on the surface, but... I have $17 extra care bucks to use off my next purchase. So really it like I saved $34.34!!! thats like 50% savings off of things we will really use like Mt. Dews, razor blades (the good ones), 2 newspapers (with coupons), oh and a snickers :)


1/14/11- That is...2 bags of tyson chicken nuggets, 3 packages of brats, 2 band-aids, resolve, 6 healthy choice meals, 4 cans of soup, 2 boxes of pasta, 3 cresant rolls, 2 shredded cheese, sliced cheese, english muffins, breakfast sandwiches, cearal, etc....) for only $49.34!  (below)

4/11/11- Publix- spent $1.15, saved $7.11!!!! (below)

4/17/11- CVS- spent $38 saved $37 and have $9 to use next time! Publix- spent $60 saved $35 on a week and a half worth of groceries! 

5/4/11-

 5/15/11- CVS- Spent $13.33 Saved $40.90... and $7 extra care bucks to use next time




So I have caught the bug... bad... and I feel like I am doing a good job! Couponing takes a lot more thought then my old way of just making a menu and buying those items. Now I survey what I have the pantry and plan meals accordingly. Ex- "Hummm... I have spaghetti sauce, noodles, and garlic bread... Now I just need to buy ground beef, and TA-DA... DINNER!!!!" I spend about 30 minutes weekly couponing and have cut our grocery bill by about 1/2! Now I'd call that a success!!!

New Year's Resolution

I had not one, but TWO New Year's resolutions this year. The first one being to start couponing. So far so good with that one. It is now the beginning of May and I am still going strong with that resolution!!! Yay for me! Well... and our wallet. (more on this later) My second resolution was to start blogging since 90% of our family lives 3+ hours away. And well, it is now May and I am posting my first "post"... better late then never right?!?! Needless to say I have A LOT of catching up to do... and A LOT to learn about blogging. I will be starting back in January and posting about the highlights of the year thus far in chronological order. So, here goes nothing.... 


PS-  God gave me many talents but spelling was not one of them, so bear with me :)