This has been a lazy weekend for the Mobleys. Well at least a lazy weekend for this part of the Mob Squad. David, on the other hand, has been working his booty off for the past three days beautifying our garage. I know some of you may be wondering what exactly the point of beautifying a garage is (yes, this is the same garage we park our cars in), but I was corrected pretty quickly by both my beloved and my father that this was an important project. Have at it fellas, I'll just enjoy my few hours of solitude.
And did I ever enjoy it. Friday evening we had some friends of ours over to touch up the paint in the garage (again, don't ask me) before we had an awesome evening of games, drinks, and laughter. For those of you that are not aware, we're big board gamers. If you ever need another couple for a game, we're your peeps. Anywho, a few hours of painting combined with all the fun of having them over knocked us out and we slept til 9am the next morning. Bliss.
Saturday morning kicked off with a run and an almost two hour trip to the Teeter. It was well worth it though! I spent $67, but saved $73! Nothing like the couponers on TV, but still pretty impressive. I owe it all to the Teeter and their triple coups. The rest of the day was spent tidying up the house and puttering around. After a quick trip to AC Moore to stock up on supplies (see previous post) I decided to take a bubble bath in our giantic garden tub. Best decision ever. Two hours, and 124 pages of my book, later and I am VERY relaxed. The evening was spent relaxing with my love and watching college football. Wonderful.
Sunday kicked off with a great morning at Hope Church with all of our amazing volunteers giving it their all. Then, we were fortunate enough to join another couple (and their sweet baby boy!) for lunch. Gotta love spending time with your community. After lunch we were too full to do much more than loll about on the couch and watch more football. Oh, and take a nap. A very glorious nap I might add.
I'm pretty sure no other weekend is ever going to equal this one in awesomeness.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Semi-Domestic Diva
Having a house has prompted me to want projects. House projects to be specific. I have enough school and church projects to keep me busy for months, but this house is like a blank canvas in need of some love. Enter Pinterest and Etsy. Both of these sites have become like crack to me. Add in the empty house, and I am constantly trying to penny pinch the grocery budget to save money for house stuff!
Here are a few projects I'm loving right now:
Here are a few projects I'm loving right now:
Cute, easy, and inexpensive way to dress up a wall!
Precious way to celebrate the season
Stellar way to organize keys, or necklaces!
I have a wall up the staircase I need to fill, and I love this idea!
Different way of doing a wreath
LOVE this idea! Now if only I knew where to get an old window. . .
Great way to keep me in check, and to keep me from stressing each evening at suppertime!
How adorable is this?? And we have TWO thermostats. Double the fun!
As you can probably see, I'm kind of obsessed with decorating. A post about my wishes for Fall is coming soon!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Coupon Crazy
Who doesn't love a good coupon? I for one positively adore coupons! My obsession started way back in the day with $25 off a $50 purchase from delia*s and quickly progressed to grocery coupons, and even now, "activity" coupons. I'm certainly not a professional, but I have learned a thing or two from some pretty coupon savvy ladies.
For instance, don't ever go to the grocery without a list. That is the number one way to overspend. The number two way? Bring someone else with you. In fact, one time when I was a wee one I overheard my mom telling a friend that she can't afford to take us (the Wardlets) to the grocery store with her because we're so expensive. In my little brain I thought that meant they were charging for kids to enter the store! Only later when I began doing my own grocery shopping did I realize truly how much moola an add-on can tack on to your total.
Anywho. Another way to save mad money is to attack with a plan. take a look at the specials before you get to the store. By doing this you can figure out how much you're saving with each item and if it's even worth buying it. On the topic of specials, look around! You can find the specials listed for an invidual grocery store online, and you can even have most sent to your inbox. While it does get terdious pretty quickly, you are at least able to compare items at different stores and see where your best deal exists.
That leads to the suggestion of shopping at different stores. I must admit I am not so good about this. Honestly, I just don't have the time. I try to scope out the sales at each store and find the best deal, but if it's just a few cents saved it's not worth it to me. Heck, I'll probably spend just as much on gas as I would save!
Another idea is to sign up for tbe special alerts online. For example, each week I get special deals emailed to me from Harris Teeter and Lowes Foods. These deals are often unadvertised, and ridiculously wonderful. One time I got an 18-pack of K-cups for $1.50 thanks to coupons and "evic" deals. Regular price of 18-pack? $12 at Walmart.
Another type of email alerts are the "activity" coupons. These are your things like Groupon, Living Social, Half Off Depot, etc. These are incredible! I cannot tell you how many date nights have been made possible thanks to these little gems. A few personal favorites? $50 to Gap for $20. $20 to Amazon.com for $10. Two Fandango movie tickets for $9. We even have a voucher for two nights at a resort in the mountains (including breakfast both mornings, $50 credit to the spa, and a champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries dessert) for $150. Score!
I saw one woman on TV saying that she spent 60 hours a week couponing. I'm hear to tell ya, it doesn't have to be that intense! Pace yourself and do what you can, when you can. Above all, get out there and look! It's amazing the deals that are there when you open your eyes.
For instance, don't ever go to the grocery without a list. That is the number one way to overspend. The number two way? Bring someone else with you. In fact, one time when I was a wee one I overheard my mom telling a friend that she can't afford to take us (the Wardlets) to the grocery store with her because we're so expensive. In my little brain I thought that meant they were charging for kids to enter the store! Only later when I began doing my own grocery shopping did I realize truly how much moola an add-on can tack on to your total.
Anywho. Another way to save mad money is to attack with a plan. take a look at the specials before you get to the store. By doing this you can figure out how much you're saving with each item and if it's even worth buying it. On the topic of specials, look around! You can find the specials listed for an invidual grocery store online, and you can even have most sent to your inbox. While it does get terdious pretty quickly, you are at least able to compare items at different stores and see where your best deal exists.
That leads to the suggestion of shopping at different stores. I must admit I am not so good about this. Honestly, I just don't have the time. I try to scope out the sales at each store and find the best deal, but if it's just a few cents saved it's not worth it to me. Heck, I'll probably spend just as much on gas as I would save!
Another idea is to sign up for tbe special alerts online. For example, each week I get special deals emailed to me from Harris Teeter and Lowes Foods. These deals are often unadvertised, and ridiculously wonderful. One time I got an 18-pack of K-cups for $1.50 thanks to coupons and "evic" deals. Regular price of 18-pack? $12 at Walmart.
Another type of email alerts are the "activity" coupons. These are your things like Groupon, Living Social, Half Off Depot, etc. These are incredible! I cannot tell you how many date nights have been made possible thanks to these little gems. A few personal favorites? $50 to Gap for $20. $20 to Amazon.com for $10. Two Fandango movie tickets for $9. We even have a voucher for two nights at a resort in the mountains (including breakfast both mornings, $50 credit to the spa, and a champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries dessert) for $150. Score!
I saw one woman on TV saying that she spent 60 hours a week couponing. I'm hear to tell ya, it doesn't have to be that intense! Pace yourself and do what you can, when you can. Above all, get out there and look! It's amazing the deals that are there when you open your eyes.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Unwanted Advice
I absolutely love love. Anything and everything to do with love and happiness gets me all gooey inside, especially weddings. Whether it has to do with my own wonderful hubby, or a friend's new beau, I love reliving every moment of an engagement/wedding. Lucky for me we've been in the thick of wedding season so my vice has been fulfilled. I've been able to peruse wedding website after wedding website, and registry list after registry list reliving my own stellar experience.
Now don't get me wrong, I loved every bit of our wedding celebration and I wouldn't change it for the world, but it's still fun to see the different ways people do things. For example, we went to a wedding recently full of beautiful, bright colors. They were gorgeous together, but it would have looked super silly coming from me and David.
A few realizations that have come to me at recent weddings:
Now don't get me wrong, I loved every bit of our wedding celebration and I wouldn't change it for the world, but it's still fun to see the different ways people do things. For example, we went to a wedding recently full of beautiful, bright colors. They were gorgeous together, but it would have looked super silly coming from me and David.
A few realizations that have come to me at recent weddings:
- Wedding cake is wedding cake no matter where it comes from and what color the frosting is. I remember pricing out wedding cakes for our wedding and being absolutely stunned at how much they cost. It's a cake, people. In other news, the anticipation of whether or not they will smash the cake in their newly beloved's face never gets old.
- Wedding favors are neat, but not necessary. In all the weddings we've been to, we've never left saying, "I can't believe they did/didn't give out a favor". Honestly, save your money for something else, such as food/drink.
- Don't skimp on the food/drink. That is one thing people pick up on. The good thing is you don't have to give a full five course meal for people to leave satisfied. Have a buffet or heavy hor d'oeuvres and offer more drink options. Signature drinks are always a cute idea without going overboard. A favorite? "Marry Me Margarita"! How precious is that?!
- Don't invite people just to invite them. Invite people you want to have as part of your special day. What's more awkward than writing a thank-you to someone you've never met before?
- Take mental "pictures". This day, arguably the most important day of your life, has the potential to fly past at lightening speed-don't let it! Pause every so often to check-in and take a mental picture of those you love around you celebrating you!
- The bridal party does not have to be a homage to your family, friends, sorority, etc. Pick who you want to be a part of your special day. This was tough for me because of all my close friends and family, but I chose my two sisters and my two best friends since childhood. Had I started including my college friends I would have ended up with half the guests at the altar with me!
- Choose a good photog. Ours was ah-mazing! She knew us throughout our relationship so she was able to catch our personalities in the pictures, not just the shot. You don't want to show your great-grandchildren a pitiful picture from your most special day. Save your money elsewhere and spring for someone who is going to be worth it.
- Plan for the unexpected. You can be the most organized person on the planet, and something can still go wrong. Be prepared for things to change at the last minute, and just go with the flow.
- Above all else, do what you want. Don't listen to me, your mom, his grandma, your friend, etc. Listen to your heart, and maybe your fiancee's heart too;-) and choose what y'all want!
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