One of them days... ok, weeks.

I was so excited at the start of this week.  It was mission productivity, and I was Tom Cruise.  Monday was great.  I finished painting the bedroom, refinished the fireplace doors I bought on Craigslist, got laundry done, went to the bank, got the car inspection done, I was on a roll.  Then, I met Tuesday. 

Tuesday was not my friend.  I got absolutely nothing done.  Ok, well not nothing.  I was able to get some of my wedding scrapbook done (it is my plan for the millions of cards we got) while watching tv and being a cranky, uncomfortable girl all day.  So, I watched a shameful array of movies and television (Yogi Bear, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton, Fraggle Rock, Muppets Take Manhatten, and a Property Virgins marathon) and didn't even make it to the grocery store for dinner.  I did try to install the freshly refinished fireplace door, but of course couldn't figure out how to do the install.  Forget you Tuesday, I like Wednesday better anyway.

Today made me wish for Tuesday again.  I woke up early, like a little girl on Christmas morning.  I was so excited to see the new carpet installed in the bedroom.  I told myself last night that tomorrow the room would look completely different.  Boy was I right.  My bedroom floor now consists of tack strips and carpet padding, how lovely.  The installers came, pulled out the old carpet, put in the new padding, and called me outside to where they had rolled out the new carpet to measure and cut.  Oh my Lord, they put the wrong measurement tag on my beautiful remnant.  Of course, they did; Wednesday hates me.  My carpet was about four feet smaller than what I paid for and I was told via Rob the salesman on the phone that I had to drive down to the carpet mart in Delaware and pick out a new carpet and reschedule an installation.  I was so mad my drive down was a blur.  I picked out a nicer carpet (by nicer I mean more expensive), but I'm not a fan of the color as much.  In the end, I have a carpet being installed tomorrow morning that would have cost me more than I was willing to spend, but because of the extreme inconvience, I don't have to pay any additional fees. 

Tomorrow can't be as mean to me as Tuesday and Wednesday have been (I say as I type this with one eye swollen shut from allergies).  Ok, it can be, I am just hoping that it isn't.  I actually work tomorrow for a few hours, and then I am going to attempt to put some of the finishing touches on the bedroom.  Hopefully when this room is done I will like it so much that I decide to enjoy it for a while before starting another big project.  I'm sure my husband is thinking the same thing. 

Hope Wednesday likes you more than it likes me!

I ain't dancing in this rain... Hurricane Irene edition!

After hour four of watching the weather reports on Hurricane Irene, I am convinced that my house will either be a convertible or under water by this time tomorrow.  The husband has told me at least five times to change the channel because he is sick of me yelling "oh no!" from another room.  Hopefully, by the time the roof gets ripped off the house, I will be so drunk that I laugh about it instead of scream and cry. 

This just in: we get to be on the watch for tornadoes too!  So, we started the week with an earthquake, and we are finishing we a hurricane and tornadoes... I will like to know who screwed up in the Mid Atlantic area of the country, because someone is obviously pissed. 

Anyway, not what I planned on blogging about today, but those of you in my area understand... people have gone insane.  I went to the Wegman's yesterday to grab some things for dinner on my way home from work: big mistake.  Anyone who shops in a Wegman's knows, it is a popular place, you walk in the door expecting a crowd.  I have never experienced such a thing in all my life.  I pretty much expected everyone to be grabbing their water and bread, but they were grabbing EVERYTHING.  The Wegman's was out of onions... ONIONS. 

My next blog will probably be pictures of the disaster... or just pictures of me drunkenly "Dancing in the Rain" (like what I did there?)  Until then, I am going to call it a wrap... before I lose power.

Stay safe!

A not so extreme couponer...

Yesterday was my first attempt at extreme couponing.  I think I failed. It took me over an hour to coupon hunt for the things that I needed for the week.  (While I want to spend the least amount of money possible, I am going to try to eat healthy.)  It seems that the the cheapest food is the most unhealthy.  If anyone ever finds coupons for fruits and veggies, let me know!  At the end of my trip, my receipt says that I had a savings of 36%, saving me $57.40.  I was pretty excited about saving nearly sixty dollars, but would like to get that percent up to 50%.  After I left the store, I noticed that not all of my coupons rang, and one item I bought rang up at full price, so next time I will pay more attention. 

Anyway, without giving you a play by play of my grocery shopping, you all should know how a little bit of extra time can save you a lot of money.  The lady behind me at the grocery store laughed when I said, "I just saved more money than I made at work today". . . I think she thought I was joking, but I wasn't. 

What a great segway to my next topic today.  I also started my new job yesterday.  What a change from teaching.  It was the first day of a new job, which is always a different kind of day.  Promotional marketing is really interesting, especially if you enjoy observing people.  It is interesting to see how different people give you different reactions when you are trying to show them something.  I think the stuff that I am marketing is really cool, and if people weren't so quick to say no and actually look, they would love it.  But, ce la vie.  Now I have to go get ready for day two!

The drive back to reality

Well, the five or six of you out there who have been reading my blog may have noticed my absence this week.  Like I said in my previous posting, I was headed to Disney with my dad and my sisters, attempting to make something of the last week before eighth grade for my youngest sis.  Tonight we are in North Carolina, and tomorrow I will be home in New Jersey, just in time to start the new job on Wednesday.

Being more of an adult this trip than any of the other times I have been to Disney, I was very aware of the cost of everything involved. . . and I do mean everything. Reason number one I did not update the blog via our "resort" was that I would have had to pay per minute for the internet.  While I was in "the happiest place on Earth" I made a few observations: One, I will purchase plenty of water before stepping foot into an Disney labeled park, resort, store.  Two, I will not even consider taking my future children to Disney before the age of nine.  I know many people will disagree with that statement, but I saw way too many temper tantrums and miserable children to spend a couple thousand dollars on a trip they won't be able to recall when they are a teenager. 

Now wait, before you start to think I'm miserable and should just learn to enjoy myself, I want to let you know that I did.  Disney is a lot of fun, and though I have been there quite a few times, I look forward to going quite a few times more.  I am already planning my next trip down with my husband who has never been before.  I think it is always exciting to go with someone who has never been before.  It is like going for the first time yourself, all over again. 

This time, since I will be in charge of the planning, I am going to do some intense research, in an attempt to get the best bang for our buck.  I will be sure to keep you all informed of great websites and deals I encounter along my planning adventure.  Likewise, if you know of any ways to see Disney on a dime, please share!  As of now, I think we are looking at September 2012, and want to stay at Wilderness Lodge resort.  I am really trying to stick with finding frugal ways to enjoy life.  I have been using coupons as much as I can and have been avoiding purchasing anything at full price.  I think that regardless of how much money you do or don't have, you should be a smart shopper.  People pay so much more than they should for things, but there are too few who put the effort in to decrease what they pay at the register. 

Back to where I started this blog; I get back home tomorrow, and start the new job on Wednesday.  I know there isn't much to say about a job I haven't started yet, but I don't know that I am all that broken up about not teaching this year.  Don't get me wrong, I love teaching, and if I got a phone call tomorrow, I would most likely jump at the opportunity.  It is what I know, and what I went to school for.  However, that being said, I am really looking forward to trying something new.  Who knows, I may find out I love something even more, I won't know unless I try. 

Until next time

Good Morning New Jersey!

Today is going to be a long day.  I probably should have tried to sleep in a little more, but alas. 

He put himself in time out

Rewind a minute, to Tuesday.  The day of my last post, I believe (or maybe it was Monday).  I spent the day down in Delaware, helping out around my parents house.  On my way home I decided to stop at the grocery store to grab something for dinner.  I know myself enough to know that once I am home, I don't really like going back out to run errands. Anyway, I have a plan to come home and get started on this weeks project of painting the bedroom.  Instead, I walk in the door to disaster.  The dog had gotten into the kitchen trash can and decided to paint the house in trash.  You know when you decide to have something unhealthy for dinner, like Chinese food, and you say to yourself "I'm going to regret this".  Seeing the sweet and sour sauce all over our new area rug made me regret the Chinese.  So, instead of painting the bedroom, I was attempting to clean the carpet.  Sweet and sour sauce is a rough stain. 

With Tuesday's evening shot, I decided to start fresh Wednesday.  And, that's what I did yesterday.  It is starting to look pretty good, but I definitely have more work ahead of me today.  Which I better get started on.  I only have a few hours before I have to hit the road, and I haven't packed yet.  My dads plan is to leave around 5 o'clock, and stop somewhere around the Virginia/ North Carolina border tonight.  Can someone explain to me a six day trip to Disney World that consists four days in the car and two days in the park?  I tried to get Chris to consider flying down for the weekend, but it looks like I will just have to plan a trip for us sometime soon. 

Another Baseball Birthday

It was a pretty fun weekend with the husband, as we celebrated his birthday pretty much the whole time.  Saturday we went to the Phillies game, which has come to be something we look forward to every summer.  We have been on a streak this year, seeing a win every time we go.  To keep the baseball birthday going, we had friends over on Sunday to celebrate.  I always love playing hostess, so I made meatballs, pasta salad, and a baseball birthday cake.  It worked out well, even though it was originally planned to be a birthday cookout.  Man, it sure has been raining like crazy the past few days.

When we weren't partying, my dad was up helping get the bedroom closet done.  I am so excited because it is finally time to sand, paint, and call to get the carpet installed!  I will be sure to show you all the before and after transformation of the bedroom.  I am so excited, mainly because I picture in my head how something is going to look, but usually do a terrible job explaining it, so when it is finished, I just hope that it looks like it does in my mind.  It was pretty much the same thing with my wedding reception, and that turned out just like I pictured. :-)

Along the same lines, I have decided that I am going to attempt a "project of the week".  This weeks project is going to be painting the bedroom, and next weeks project is going to be a new fireplace screen for under $30 (Thank you Craigs List). Also on the project list is a job... I need one, and preferably before my next car payment is due.  I had a third interview with a company today, and now I am just crossing my fingers. 

Hopefully I will get one more post up before the impromtu trip to Disney World.  We leave Thursday.  I am pretty excited, mixed with wish my mom and my hubby were going too.  Regardless, Disney is always a good time!

A nun, a job, and a bulletin board...

Today's post is going to be a short one.  I just wanted to give you a quick update, since I know you have all been waiting patiently to find out what's been going on in my life.  I did end up going back to the thrift store yesterday to get that picture frame I had my eye on.  It was a rustic goldish color, until I got my hands on it.  I went right from the thrift store to the AC Moore, because I have decided I will do the projects as quick as I can, or I won't do them at all.  After some spray paint, and some cork, the frame is now a beautiful cork board.  I think it looks great, if I do say so myself.

The next project is going to be a new fireplace screen.  We have a wire curtain thing now, which just lets hot and cold air flow freely in and out of the house; not ideal.  I found a cheap fireplace screen with glass doors on craigslist for $25.  So, instead of paying the $350 for a new one, I am going to find some fire resistant black paint and give the old brass screen a new life. Before and after pictures will be posted! :-)

You are probably wondering where the nun and the job come onto the scene since I jumped right into the bulletin board.  I met up with my great friend Katie and the infamous Sister Karen for lunch in Pennsylvania, and it was a great time.  Sister Karen is the sweetest woman I've ever met, and it was great catching up.  Ah, to be in a convent again (yes, I lived in a convent for two years; no, I've not for one second ever considered becoming a nun).  I think my body did not enjoy the cafeteria food... Katie, how did your body take it?

After lunch I got a phone call from the hubs wondering where my job interview was, which was scheduled at 5:00.  I said "somewhere around Mt. Laurel, thinking I'd have plenty of time".  I then check my phone to realize it is in Exton, Pennsylvania.  So, I fly back to Jersey, change clothes, and fly back to Pennsylvania.  I really hope the interview went well, but I can never tell about these things. 

Now it is time for me to go... spending the evening snuggled on the couch with the birthday boy.  Wondering what will happen if I take two five hour energy's... I may need it tonight.