So much stuff to say, so little time

Quick post in case the world needs an update......still breathing...running around like the crazy woman I am. Saving money, coupon clipping, working the CVS deals and amazing my friends and family. My shampoo/conditioner stock continues to build. We shouldn't need any for at least a year! BTW, for those that are wondering.....we STILL HAVE TP. Almost 2 years later and I still haven't bought any.

Had a great weekend of Southern Living at Home. Parties and Open House. If you missed the one last weekend, you can still come to the open house this weekend. Email me for directions and details.

My step son arrived Sunday and is having a super visit with his dad. My stepson is the sweetest boy and it is always a pleasure to have him around. Wish he lived closer. We are planning to have all the kids together tonight. Should be fun. Hope to have some pictures to share soon. JH and I were looking at the wedding pictures and I told him how much "The Boy" has changed since then. Can't wait to see them together. I bet the boy is almost as tall as JH. I also can't wait to see the boys hair!!!!!

I made two scrapbooks for a party that we had today for one of our "kids". My DH laughs when I tell him that I am making a scrapbook while at work. Hey, it's work related! I didn't have the time to do it at home like the last three I made for work. I don't get paid for my "off duty" time so I wasn't going to give up my spare minutes this time. The party is still going on but I told them I needed to do some work. LOL!!!!

Speaking of...guess I will do a few actual work related activities. This coming weekend is booked and next weekend is the big SY crop so I may be MIA again. See ya as soon as I get a minute.

Til later.........

Special PS....I'm not mad at you. I'm sad and scared. Your move. I love you!

Savings & SLAH

I've re-jumped onto the Savings bandwagon this past month. Thankfully I have sites that I visit that do most of the work for me, finding the deals/coupons/rebates etc. I just went back through my information and discovered the following:

Out of Pocket since July 1st
$276.26
plus $100.84 for a Winn Dixie trip that had meat on the bill

Savings:
$633.90
plus $44.23 from the same Winn Dixie trip

WOW!!!!

I will not need Toothpaste/shampoo/conditioner/razors/air fresheners/dish washer detergent/Furniture polish-dusters....for awhile. I also have rebates for several items coming to increase my "savings" total.

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I'm having an Southern Living at Home-Open House this weekend and next to showcase the new Fall Catalog. If anyone is local and interested, email me for details.

Take a look at my website for a sneak peek at the Fall items. They are spectacular. August Hostesses get DOUBLE Hostess dollars so if you are local or want to do a catalog show, email me ASAP. Nothing better than getting beautiful things for yourself or for gifts for FREE!!

www.southernlivingathome.com/hinton

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We are expecting company this weekend so it should be a wild time for the next little while. If you don't see me for a few days you will understand why.

Hope everyone is doing OK. I'm alittle behind in my reading but see that PW & Tricia are having a rough time right now. Check out their blogs to the left & catch up. Prayers (especially for Tricia) would be great.

DD..................call your mother! I need to schedule time with you. LOL.

til later........................

Tag of a different sort

My buddy, HI MELISSA, tagged me. While I rarely play along I figured it would make for a post and since I'm behind, here you go:

1. What is the one Website you visit almost everyday? Yahoo
2. Do you have a IM account? if so with whom?None
3. What grocery store do you shop at the most? Winn Dixie/Publix
4. What brand of Shampoo do you use the most? (or like the most?) VIVE..I have 30 bottles now! LOL
5. What Internet Browser do you use? ????
6. For editing Photos, what software do you use? Paintshop Pro
7. What are you paying in gas this week? $3.89-3.95/gallon
8. What are you going to be when you grow up? My daughter (it's a running joke)
9. Do you subscribe to your local newspaper? what's the name? YES, St. Petersburg Time & Tampa Tribune....gets me double coupons baby!
10. What's one of your favorite songs from the 70's? Just You and Me by Chicago..it's "our song"

There ya go Mel. Thanks for the post. Miss you!!

I was a Shopping and Saving FREAK this weekend. I'll tell you all about it soon but I'm frantically getting ready for my Southern Living at Home Open House(s). If you are in my area and interested in dropping by..email me for details.

Til later............

Double Bonus Day

Yesterday was a great day..kid wize. I got the pleasure of having lunch with my DD and then having dinner with "The Boy". My DD met me at the local CVS and we headed to Panera Bread Co. (FYI --they have changed the Pick Two menu. I didn't know it and it cost me an extra $2) She showed me pictures of her new Condo (renting) and then we came back to work so she could visit with my friends that she knows. It was really fun to spend time with her. LOVE YA J!!

After work I headed over and picked up the boy to have dinner. He named 5 places to choose from and when pressed, decided he wanted to go to CICI's Pizza. LOL. He's such high maintenance. I almost didn't recognize him when he walked out of his dad's place. He still had hair and he looked taller & thinner. He laughed about his hair and said he is getting it cut today but just a tiny bit off the front and some off the back. He said it will not be a buzz cut! (those that know me have heard about the drama of his hair over the last few years)

We had a nice visit over pizza and root beer. I broke down and let him play a video game after we finished eating. If he can channel his obsession with video games for the good of mankind we are set. Called DH so he could talk to the boy before I dropped him off. They are such guys!!

I have mentioned the "savings" sites I've been going to. One of them has several of my friends involved and it has turned into a "competition of sorts" to see who can save the most money. I went to CVS yesterday (see comment above about DD). I had an OOP of $25 and saved $95. (I also got a $10 ECB to use at another visit--that is their Extra Care Bucks)
This morning I went to another CVS and had an OOP of $66 ($7 of which was a duplicate charge that I plan to get refunded to me later today) and a savings of $125. I forgot the $10 ECB from yesterday so I still have that for another day.

We now have enough Shampoo/conditioner, Razors, toothpaste & nail polish for an army. My DH said last night, after unloading that days haul, that we'll need to build an addition to hold all my stuff. What until he sees the 6 bags I'll be carrying in tonight!! LOL. Good thing we got the SLAH delivery yesterday. I will be cutting some of theboxes down to make "bins" to store the stuff.

Speaking of the SLAH delivery, WOW. We love the products we got. *****LISA.....funny story (at least I hope you'll think so)****My DH usually waits until I get home to open the boxes. I must have told him a few times he can always open them ahead of time because yesterday he took me at my word. When I spoke to him late in the afternoon he was so excited about all the beautiful things we had received. He then told me a story about what a PAIN IN THE BUTT it had been to put together one particular item. He said it was worth it because he really liked it.

Well, as you can guess----it was one of the few things that DIDN'T belong to us!

Yes, he spent over an hour putting together my friends Stand and Basket set. He was very upset when he found out that it wasn't ours. Not so much that he didn't get to keep it but that it had taken so long to put together. So LISA....if it is OK, I'm going to find a box big enough to put the COMPLETED item in and ship it to you. You can thank my DH for saving you huge aggregation. LOL. BTW, it really is pretty but apparently once the baskets are in, they are in!

My FALL product kit is scheduled for delivery today. I told my DH is was OK to open that. LOL. I can't wait to see the new items that will be available to the public on August 1st.

Guess that is all for now. What plans do you all have for the weekend?

Til later..........................

Always keeping it real

In my efforts to keep it real while not revealing to much of my life...I got my Mammogram yesterday. FUN! Actually, it wasn't as bad as in years past. I questioned the tech about the fact that she didn't sqwish the girls to a pancake and she said the new machine do it digitally and do not need to squeeze as much. Good to know. If you have been avoiding your check up because of your "painful" memories of times past, call your local facility and see what kind of machine they use. If you are local to me and need a referral to my place, email me and I'll share.

I've rented several movies recently and have a good one to recommend...."Untraceable" with Diane Lane & Colin Hanks. It is about FBI agents that are trying to find and stop an "internet killer". The guy hooks up his victims and sends a live feed out over the internet. The more people that click on the site, the faster his victims die. REALLY good. I spent half my time with my eyes closed but that is because I am a really big wimp and do not like scary/bloody stuff. My DH remarked after the movie that he would pay $100 each time we watched a movie if he could get as emotionally invested in the film as I do. LOL. I told him that the movie people spend alot of money to make the movie and the least I can do is "believe & feel" what ever it is they are trying to portray. We watched the "special features" after the film and one of the directors/producers said he hoped the movie goers would watch part of the film "Through their fingers". I said to my DH....."SEE, I made the man happy!"

I'm really excited because I got an email that my SLAH Sale stuff is on it's way!!!! Alot of the items sold out on the first day so I'm very excited that I got the stuff I wanted. If you missed out........sorry!!!!! There are still a few things left. You can check out my website and click on the Sale Flyer. They were updating it to show the stuff that is sold out. If you have any questions, contact me directly and I'll see what I can do.*****LISA....I'll get your stuff in the mail ASAP after they arrive at my house. We were really lucky as the Baskets sold out QUICK!******

I'm working on a big SNEAK PEEK of the new SHAH products being released in August. I want to have an "OPEN HOUSE" style reveal. Stay tuned for details.

CHA is this week. Is there anything you are looking forward to hearing about? I know there are many new Nestabilities coming out. My wallet can't afford them all! My style has never depended on the "Latest" paper/trends so I don't have to worry about that. I love the new gadgets but will have to pace myself. Goodness knows I have three items at my house right now that are still in the SEALED packaging because I haven't had time to open and use them. Besides, I know my BFF-D will get everything and I can play with them when we get together! LOL....love ya gal!!

Still owe ya pictures of the "wild cards" from Saturday. I haven't forgotten.

Til later............

Can't get my groove back

Thanks to my peeps that have checked up on me. I'm fine but still bummed out and can't shake it. Nothing is seriously wrong, it's all about someone else. You know the saying, "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink"? Well, I can't even lead the horse to water. In my attempt to help someone I have made things much worse and I'm not sure how to handle it.

Sorry to be such a downer.

On a brighter note, the stitches are out and the steri-strips are finally off. I decided I couldn't stand it any longer and took them off on Saturday. I think it is very noticeable but everyone else that has seen it says it looks great. I've had conversations with people today that haven't even noticed the strips are gone. LOL.

Friday, I got my free food from Chick-fila for dressing like a cow and a free slurpee for 7/11 day. Went shopping at two different Publix's and put my new coupon/savings plan to work. Ended up with an OOP of $25 and savings of $70 between the two trips.

Had a day of scraping Saturday at my friend and former (almost...LOL) neighbors house. Had a total of 5 gals plus two new babies and a TON O FOOD. Since we live 2 doors down, my DH got several plates of food that day and a visit from both babies. He very much enjoyed the food and the babies. We gals had a lot of fun talking and catching up & Kissing babies. I also made 8 cards. *** I almost forgot, I used the Plastic Canvas shapes to do my paper piercing on the cards and it worked great. I took the small square one and lined it up on my card & punched away. I'll try to get pictures of the cards and post them to show you what I mean. I'll warn you ahead of time, these are some FUNKY cards. I used the newest $1 stamps from Joanns and they have some crazy designs and sayings. To make it even wilder, I used some really crazy patterned paper. Not my normal cards, that's for sure***

Sunday, quiet. Watched the movie"Jumpers" and after I took it back to the store I cleaned my "area" and read some blogs/coupon/saving sites and basically hung out with my DH.

I got a call from "The Boy" on Sunday afternoon. I've been waiting to hear from him since I sent the card "from his cat" last week. (did I tell you that story?) He said he really liked the card and the picture I sent. Sweet right?? Not all the way, he actually called to ask me to check his DVR to be sure he was recording something. LOL. He did say he loved and missed us...not just the cat. I'm going to try and take him to dinner sometime this week. Miss his face!

Hope everyone is well. Anything exciting?

Til later................

Check this site

Click here to check out one of my favorite new sites. You can go to a number of super sites from there with hundreds of money saving tips/locations.

Prepare to get lost for hours!

til later..........

It's tough

I know I haven't been blogging. It's tough to blog when you are having issues you can't discuss. I'm such a "Sharing" person that I tend to tell everything that is on my mind or going on in my life. My DH is a VERY private person. He is teaching me that you don't have to let people know everything. That is hard for me. I've been struggling with that this week. Nothing is really wrong, just family stuff that has been going on since time began. Sometimes it gets me down. It upsets me that no one really has a Norman Rockwell life. I've decided that if it's ok, when I get to Heaven and meet him, I'm going to give him a big punch on the arm. His Darn paintings sure make it hard for the rest of us to live up to the images he drew.

Anyway...........My sterri-strips are still hanging in there. I've been stubborn about not taking them off. The doctor said they would eventually fall off..so that's what I'm going to let them do. I'm really curious to see what the "area" looks like but I'm afraid too.

It's been so quiet around the house without the boy. He really doesn't make alot of noise but it's still been "quiet". We've been taking advantage of his absence by snuggling on the couch more than usual. He always gets to grossed out when we snuggle...LOL!!

Had a SLAH party scheduled for Saturday night, actually a re-schedule, that just "postponed" again! ARG!! I was really looking forward to getting together with some gals and sharing the new products I will be getting this week. Shucks!

I've been spending alot of time going through "Freebie" sites. There are MANY blogs that have great money saving ideas. They have much more time on their hands than I do so I just take advantage of the deals they find. I've signed up for a TON of free on your birthday stuff...ordered a ton of free samples and have started getting more active in my couponing again. Now if I could just stay away from the "Everything must go" signs at my local JoAnns I'd be OK.

Til later............

Anyone out there?

I can't believe I haven't updated since Monday. Hope everyone is doing ok. I've been keeping up on my blogging peeps but haven't had the energy to post myself. Here is a quick update.

Got my stitches out on Wed. The doctor and his staff seemed pleased but we won't know how it looks for another few days. They put superglue like stuff over the incision and then put steri strips over that. They said the strips should fall off in about a week. I have a follow up in 6 weeks to see what we need to do at that point, depending on how the scar looks.

Spent a nice quiet Friday. Did a little food shopping and then my DH and I went to the movies to see Hancock. It was good but not what we expected. I try not to read reviews as I HATE when people give away the plot or secrets to a movie or show. I won't do it here either. If you are a Will Smith fan you will enjoy the movie.

We purposely went to the movie when we figured everyone else would be at the firework shows. The movie got over sooner than we figured so we decided to try and find a place to see a "show". I ended up parking in the rear of a CVS and watching a local fireworks show.

Stayed in bed this morning and watched a Jon & Kate plus 8 marathon. Spending the rest of the day with my DH and catching up on web stuff. Going to watch Nascar in a little while. The best thing is that I still have another day off.

How was your fourth?

Til later................