A few days to go!

Only a few more days until we leave to go to the Marlboro Ranch in Montana. So excited! I am so piss-my-pants ready for vacation I can hardly stand myself. It's getting a little too hot and steamy down here for this northern girl. I went outside last night to water plants and instantly started sweating, er, I mean glistening.

Embarrassed to use coupons

I was once embarrassed to use coupons. My mother always includes a few in packages she sends to me for this-and-that. Mostly for toilet paper, tampons, and baking items. I was most bashful to use the tampon coupons. Heck, I hated to buy them-for numerous reasons. I would stealthily go to a woman check-out person whenever these were in my cart. Also, go to CVS or Target and buy only that? No way, Jose. I had to grab a few other things. Then, a man would get in line behind me, I would blush. (I have absolutely NO explanation for this). Heaven forbid it was time for the girl cashiers break, and a man would take over for her. Full on sweating. And now you want me to use a coupon? YOU ARE CRAZY! My head would swirl with "Price check on Tampax Tampons, Supers please". OH THE HORROR!!!!
Back on the subject of coupons though....
I now check on-line for coupons everyday. I think about what I need to buy, then I google it. I can't tell you the last time I was at the store and didn't use at least 1 coupon. It's empowering. I scoff at the people behind me. HAHA I GOT A BETTER PRICE ON THIS THEN YOU!!!! I love the feeling of saving money. Especially "in these times". Yes, I said it. I am not sure what to attribute to us not having as much extra spending money as before. We both have increased our pay, shortened our commute, eat out once a week instead of every day-twice (lunch, dinner). Where does it all go? I guess groceries. Now that we cook at home, I have easily doubled-if not tripled the trips to the supermarket. Food is food. You gotta eat. Oh crap. I forgot to get milk at the store.....

OB/GYN

The first one I ever had was a man, Dr. Pappas. This was in Mississippi when I was late teens, early twenties. Every time I went, they did a urine test for pregnancy. (I always secretly held my breath a little each time.) Then he would come in (the last few years I saw him, he had a woman nurse come in with him), tell me I was not preggers and proceed with the exam. Sigh.
I went to one today and no urine test. This could be as simple as:
*The insurance I had before paid for it automatically, and they did it for more money, and mine doesn't automatically pay for it now so they only do it if necessary.
*Teenagers are less likey to test themselves (based soley on my expereience)
However, a part of me thinks it may have been because teen pregnancy was such a widespread thing in Mississippi. Not judging! At all! Several of my friends in high school (in Seattle AND Mississippi) had babies in high school. It just seemed a little off, based upon what I was used to.

She's baaaaaaack!

My BFF Joann and my Godchildren Montana and Saige have moved back from Colorado!! I am super excited! I put together a little welcome home kit with Blue Plate Mayo, Tony's, Tabasco, Zatarains crawfish ettoufee mix, Blue Runner Red Beans, and a NOLA hat. Yea!

Crawfish

The hubs and I hosted a family get-together disguised as a crawfish boil. It was such a good time, his family who had never been to our house got to see it, and loved it. We have been there almost 3 years now, and of course, every time you come, there is something new and different. That's the shopper in me I suppose.

My ranch share site

http://andreamcknight.shutterfly.com/

Budgets

Even though I am choosing not to participate in the recession, I have put the hubs and I on coffee/lunch budgets of $20 a week. It keeps me from spending money on lunch everyday. Instead I take my lunch into work from home & I get my Grande Starbucks Doubleshot on Ice each morning and once a week I can have lunch a Cane's or Chick-fil-a.
This budget is only for those items. Dry cleaning, gas, groceries, cigs, etc. are not included.