Third & Two Firsts December 5, 2009

This year Danny and I celebrated our third Thanksgiving together as a married couple, and our first Thanksgiving with his family in California (which of course is my family too!).  Now I know, Thanksgiving was a week ago, but I figure it is never to late to share about any of the Slavich Family Shenanigans , especially when we’re having fun with and/or visiting family and friends around the country!  Now when you return home from traveling people always ask: “Did you have a good time?”  ”How were your flights?” “How was the weather?,”  etc, and when you’ve been gone over Thanksgiving they ask, “How was your Thanksgiving?” “Did you have a lot of good food?” “Who prepared the meal? Did you have to cook?”  and on and on. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind the questions, especially when you had pretty nice flights and a fabulous time with family as we did this trip, but sometimes it is difficult to express in words how wonderful a trip was.  I could write a lengthy post detailing our trip (which was SO MUCH FUN!!!!) but I think sharing some photos will tell the story better.  They don’t capture every moment…including the countless hours of fun the “kids” (that’s us) had playing Nertz, or the guys playing disc golf, or visiting my father-in-law’s new store that recently opened, or our numerous trips to the grocery store, or learning more about friends Nathan & Christiana (and baby Ava) plans as they head to Cambodia to serve as missionaries, or just the general fun we had doing nothing but hanging out and talking, but the photos do capture quite a few.  So enjoy!

Let me introduce you to the biggest highlight of our trip….

Gracie Girl

…our niece…her name is Grace Elizabeth Richter.  You’ll see her in quite a few photos…she’s very photogenic

Uncle Dan & Grace

Uncle Dan & Auntie Lo (that’s Danny & I) were thrilled to get to hold, play with, love on, and even change/clean up the spit up of, our precious little niece Grace!  We love her!

Auntie Lo & Grace

Gracie loves her Uncle Dan…

I think she likes him

We were also able to be there for Grace’s baby dedication…Justin & Sarah will do a great job of raising her in a home that seeks to teach her about Jesus and demonstrate his love toward her!

Baby Dedication

Beki, Nicky, Danny & Laura

It was a very big day for little Gracie girl…all sorts of family came to support Sarah & Justin, and to see Grace!

Taking a Nap after her big day...it's hard being the center of attention!

As if you couldn’t tell, we all love her very much!

The Uncles having fun!

We can’t leave out Auntie B….who Gracie loves to talk to!

Smiling at Auntie B

Auntie B & Uncle Nicky

Now on to the Thanksgiving day festivities.  The sisters (Sarah, Beki & I) had a baking day the day before Thanksgiving and did a lot of prep work for our Thanksgiving meal, including baking my Grandma Worden’s pumpkin pie (my personal favorite), pumpkin spice scones (YUM!), pumpkin cream cheese bars (so delicious).  A huge thank you to Sarah for doing most of the grocery shopping, and to the rest of the fam who ran to the store as needed!  We were not at a shortage for delicious things to eat!  We also made a cheese ball (Thank you goes out to my friend Elizabeth Yeiser for the recipe that keeps on giving!) and as mentioned before, did prep work for the other “day of” recipes.  Including this yummy sausage-cranberry stuffing….

The Richters (Danny’s sister Sarah, her husband Justin & our niece Grace) spent the night so we could all wake up and spend the day together as a family.  Then Thanksgiving day we had all sorts of munchies as we prepared the Thanksgiving dinner including, for Danny and Justin, crackers and Easy Cheese…oh the memories that snack brings of the first time they bonded

Aunti Lo has the touch!

While the sisters prepared the munchies and Thanksgiving meal, Gracie and the guys hung out….

Gracie playing poker with the guys

Sarah, Beki & I were cooking, baking, and turkey basting machines!

Baking Beki

It was a fun family day….

Justin and Gracie enjoying a nap during the football game!

Did I mention there was Pecan Pie? And these amazing Feta Fold Overs that Sarah made!?!

Now I have to introduce you to the only *named* star of the show, Franklin Walter….we were very proud of him!

Sisters

Yes…one of the Slavich family traditions is Sarah naming the Thanksgiving turkey.  Franklin Walter was a great (and delicious) addition to that tradition!

Danny helping in the kitchen (this included taste testing of course!)

CeCe made the green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole….so yummy!  Jeff did the honor of carving the turkey.  And a big thank you goes out to them for supplying the groceries used to prepare all of the Thanksgiving goodies!

There was much fun to be had in the kitchen…

…and out of it….

Auntie B & Grace

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner!  The food was fabulous and the company even more so!  We had good time drawing letters out of a basket and sharing things we were thankful for that began with those letters…some more or less serious than others  There may have been mention of tutus on a certain type of animal…

A Slavich/Richter Family Thanksgiving

We also visited Danny’s grandpa, Boppie…he’s very sweet and made us laugh a lot!  Better behave Nicky or Boppie will get on to you

Laura, Danny & Boppie

The Men of the Family

And a few more photos from the day’s outing, including a stop at Starbucks…

Isn't she cute and stylish?

Teaching Grace to appreciate coffee at an early age

Sarah took family Christmas photos for Danny & I….

We had a really great trip, but as you know all good things must come to an end…at least this side of heaven, so we said a hug-filled goodbye with our traditional breakfast out as a family at Denny’s…

Sleeping Beauty

Saying goodbye

If you look closely you can see how Gracie felt about us leaving!

After looking through all of the photos of our trip, I hope you get the answers to all of those questions about how our trip to California was!  We really did have a fun and relaxing time.  And, if it wasn’t clear already, we love out little niece!

Everything Under $1…almost! December 2, 2009

After a fabulous vacation (BLOG POST COMING SOON!!!), including a vacation from clipping, organizing, and shopping with coupons I’m back to reality. (ok, I have to admit I actually ended up using a coupon at CVS once while we were out of town but there were no major couponing/shopping adventures)  I did however plan a shopping list and leave out coupons for my mom to help in her shopping while I was out of town. It’s good to delegate   Anyway, my point is that it was nice to have a breather from the planning and organizing of couponing, but being back in the real world has me at it again!  I spent a chunk of my Tuesday clipping, sorting, and organizing coupons that were stacking up, and as well as some time Wednesday figuring out any last minute deals I wanted at Publix before the new ad came out for Thursday.  Everything this trip was under $1 except for the chuck roast and ice cream bars!

Here’s my short list of deals for the week:

(2) McCormick Pure Ground Black Pepper  4 oz, Originally $2.79

• Buy 1 Get 1 Free, (making it $1.39/box)
• (1) -$1.00 Any McCormick Spice or Extract, printable limit reached (making it $0.89/box)
• (1) -$0.50 Any McCormick Spice or Extract, RedPlum 11/1/09 (making it $0.65/box)

(2) Shedd’s Spread Country Crock Regular or Churn Style 15 oz, Originally $1.99

• Buy 1 Get 1 Free, (making it $0.99/tub)
• (2) -$.50 Any Shedd’s product, printable (making it $0.49/tub)

(2) Dreamfields Pasta 13.25 oz, Originally $1.99

• Advantage Buy Savings 3 for $5, (making it $1.67/box)
• (2) -$1.00 Any Dreamfield Pasta, printable, (making it $0.67/box)

(2) Ronzoni Smart Taste Pasta 14.5 oz, Originally $1.50

• Advantage Buy Savings 4 for $5, (making it $1.25/box)
• (1) -$1.00/2 Ronzoni Smart Taste Pasta, printable limit reached, (making it $0.75/box)

(2) Green Giant Boxed Frozen Vegetables 7-10 oz, Originally $1.67

• Ad Special Savings price, (making it $0.99/box)
• (1) -$0.50/2 Any Green Giant Boxed Vegetable, printable, (making it $0.74/box)

My Two Non-Coupon Items:

(1) Boneless Chuck Pot Roast, Originally $4.31/lb,  making it $8.57

• Ad Special Savings price of $2.99/lb, (making it $5.95)

(2) Weight Watchers Cookies & Cream Ice Cream Bars, Originally $5.29

• Ad Special Savings 2 for $7.00, (making it $3.50/box)

Groceries should have cost: $39.39

My Actual cost: $19.97

= a   51 %  Savings!!!!!!

Answers November 20, 2009

A brief update

I’m writing this post from the living room couch of my in-laws’ home in California. We arrived in town late last night and met our cute and cuddly niece Grace for the first time.  She’s is so much fun! I have to say that I am so thankful for the wonderful families my husband and I have.  I am grateful for parents who love the Lord and  in-laws that love the Lord.  I am also thankful for my wonderful husband who loves the Lord and loves me. I am so blessed!

Answers

This morning I read Psalm 20 as a part of my devotional time and it really speaks to me where I am right now…I do pray that the Lord will continue to answer when I call on Him.  In fact, this Psalm is one of those answers from Him.  He is a God who answers. I am thankful for that!

 

Psalm 20

1 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary
and give you support from Zion!
3 May he remember all your offerings
and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices!

4 May he grant you your heart’s desire
and fulfill all your plans!
5 May we shout for joy over your salvation,
and in the name of our God set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!

6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with the saving might of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
8 They collapse and fall,
but we rise and stand upright.

9 O Lord, save the king!
May he answer us when we call.

The Search is Over! November 12, 2009

After 5 months of searching, viewing, praying, and being disappointed and exhausted by the hunt…I am excited to announce that we have found a house!  Now it isn’t official yet… there are still papers to be signed, but we put in an offer and the offer was accepted!  We have an “executed contract” and have begun the inspection, loan, etc process.  It is a house with a lot of “potential” which means we get to make it out own!  Now we aren’t first time homebuyers, but having only had the brand-new home experience in Louisville, we are excited about our new adventure full of what I am sure will be the good, the bad, and the ugly….and hopefully the beautiful, of demo and remodeling.  We’re really excited about the possibilities!!!!  I’m going to be putting my couponing/savvy shopping efforts into remodeling supplies…watch out Home Depot, Lowes, etc…here I come!

A big thank you to all who have been praying for us in the process of looking for a home.  There are so many little details that are coming together and we can see God working it out.  Once we close on the house we’ll share more about that.  We do ask that you would join with us in praying for a smooth closing process.  If all goes well we could close on the house before Christmas which is an exciting possibility!  Santa may be putting Home Depot cards under the tree this year!

53% Savings on Quick Trip to Publix November 6, 2009

With a busy weekend ahead and a Thursday that had a few other more important things on the to do list, I only did a quick trip to Publix.  I may end up making a second quick trip before next Thursday to pick up last minute things, but since I got my deals/major shopping out of the way with Thursday’s trip I won’t be making any long trips to Publix this week.  Time is sometimes a more important thing to save on!  Here’s what I bought:

**Not pictured: French Bread (already in oven) & Vine Ripe Tomato (already sliced in salad)

$67.93 worth of groceries…for $32.14.  That’s right, I saved 53% off my grocery bill!  Plus, I’m stocked up on a few things I won’t be buying again for a few months!

Here’s how I did it:

(1) Vine Ripe Tomato Originally $1.84/lb (0.31lbs = $0.54)

• Ad Special Savings price $1.49/lb (making it $0.46)

(1) DiGiorno Ultimate Topping Pepperoni Pizza Originally $6.99

• Ad Special Savings Price 2 for $10 (making it $5.00)
• -$1.50/1 DiGiorno Ultimate Topping Pizza printable (making it $3.50)

(2) Welch’s 100% Grape Juice Assort. Varieties (I bought White Grape Peach and Grape) Originally $4.09

• Ad Special Savings Price (making it $2.99)
• (2) -$1.00 Welch’s 100% Grape Juice Any Size, Any Variety printable (making it $1.99)

(2) Peter Pan Peanut Butter 40oz (I bought 1 creamy and 1 crunchy) Originally $5.49

• B1G1 free Peter Pan Peanut Butter 40oz (making it $2.75)
• -$1.00/2 Peter Pan Peanut Butter Any size blinkie @Publix (making it $2.25)

(2) Nestle Toll House Morsels 12oz Originally $2.50/bag

• B1G1 free Nestle Toll House Morsels 11-12oz (making it $1.25)
• (2) -$0.50/1 Nestle Toll House Morsels, RedPlum 11/1/09 (making it $0.75)

(4) Nestle Toll House Refrigerated Cookie Dough Assort. Varieties Originally $3.49

• B1G1 free Nestle Toll House Refridgerated Cookie Dough Assort. Varieties (making it $1.75)
• (4) -$1.00/1 Nestle Toll House Refridgerated Cookie Dough, (2) RedPlum 11/1, (1) Smart Source 10/11, (1) Publix Family Style Winter 2009 (making it $0.75)

(4) Hunts Petite Diced Tomatoes Originally $1.39

• B1G1 free (making it $0.70)
• (2) -$0.50/2 Hunts Tomatoes printable (making it $0.45)

(2) Ball Park Beef Franks Originally $4.19

• (1) -$1.00/2 Any Ball Park Franks, clipped from the newspaper, but I can’t remember which insert! (making it $3.69)
• (2) -$1.00/1 Any Ball Park Frank, Publix Green Advantage Buy Coupon exp 11/06/09 (making it $2.69)

My no coupon items:

• Publix bakery French Bread Originally $1.99
• Fresh Express Baby Spinach Originally $3.99

With just a little planning I saved $35.79!  Now I have things I won’t need to buy for a few months along with things for today!  It pays (me) to plan!

 

Sweet Ideas Holiday 2009…hidden coupon!!! November 5, 2009

 

I found this insert (Sweet Ideas Holiday 2009) in the Publix Family Style Winter 2009 Magazine, which is FREE (typically found by the entrance on one of the spinning racks or you can subscribe for a free copy).  It has a lot of great holiday cookie and treat ideas…many of which I plan on trying out this season!  But for those who are more interested in coupons…it also contains a coupon for $1.00 off any 1 Nestle Toll House Refrigerated Cookie Dough!  So pick up your free magazine and get a bunch of cute ideas along with a $1.00 off coupon! Pair two of these up with this week’s B1G1 free deal and it will only cost you $0.75 per package!

Noah’s Ark November 4, 2009

For the past 20+ years the church my husband pastors (since 3/1/09), Pembroke Road Baptist Church, opens up its gymnasium on Halloween for the annual Noah’s Ark Carnival.  It is an event that is well attended by those in the neighborhood and offers a safe alternative to trick-or-treating.  It really is like an old fashioned carnival with all sorts of games to play.

Outside music is played and inside the gym is decorated, and booths are set up with games like ring toss, balloon pop, face painting, bean bag toss, etc.

Church members volunteer and run the booths.

The kids and the adults love the games!

Then of course there’s the bounce house…

….cake walk…

…basketball…

…..and even a book walk.

A welcome/info table (a new addition this year) and ticket counter line the entry into the main gym.

The kitchen grills up hot dogs, and serves nachos, pizza and other snacks and drinks.

Free photos are taken in front of a large ark filled with animals.

Everything takes tickets (except the Free Noah’s Ark Photo Booth) and tickets only cost 10¢ a piece. It takes 1 ticket to play a game and candy is won at every game whether you win or lose.  The snacks cost anywhere from 2-10 tickets so as you can tell, it’s meant to be inexpensive and accessible to everyone.

Our hope has been that it would not only be well attended, safe, fun, and accessible, but that it would be a bridge to the gospel in our community…that it would serve as a means of connecting those who don’t know Jesus to a relationship with him…that those who are disconnected from a local church body would connect with out church.  It is just one opportunity, but a great one.

I am happy to report hundreds came through and we had a number of great conversations with those in attendance.

Next week we officially begin “After the Flood,” a new twist on our follow up to Noah’s Ark.  The free photos taken at the carnival are being developed this week and next week we will be sending out teams to deliver the photos to the families.  This provides another opportunity to connect with those who came to the carnival and see how our church can better serve them.  Any opportunity is a good one!

A big thanks to Joyce for coordinating Noah’s Ark and to all of the volunteers who donated candy, books, baked goods, their time and energy to this ministry opportunity!  It was a huge success! Praise the Lord!

52% Savings @Publix for 10/29-11/04 October 29, 2009

My 10/29/09 Trip to Publix

Yes, including a few needed non-sale, no-coupon items, I saved 52% off my total bill at Publix today!  Now there were a couple of items they were out of, but the stock boy assured me he would have the large bags of the Frozen Green Giant Corn Niblets tomorrow, so I’ll head back for those then (more savings to come!).  I won’t try to deceive you, it was work to save that much: it took a lot of planning and coupon clipping/organizing, and of course the time to give the cashier the coupons after scanning the items, but it was well worth it!  In fact as I was fumbling through coupons and handing them to the cashier the gal in line behind me asked: “How much are you going to save?” To which I replied, “Somewhere between 40-50% usually, but I’m not sure how much this trip…I’ve saved $80 so far.” She then asked, “Where do you get your coupons?!?”  I explained I get them from the Sunday paper and online, and then referred her to one of my favorite savings blogs, SouthernSavers.com, which I said is a good place to start.  She seemed amazed and after thanking me started typing away on her iPhone…I’m pretty sure she was typing in the website I had referred her to!

But back to what I got today, take a look:

***Not pictured: Chuck Roast (already in the oven) & a few bottles of water (in the fridge)

(2 – 32oz bags of Publix Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, 2.92lb Chuck Roast, 28 pack of 16.9oz bottles of Publix Spring Water, 2- 8oz Breakstone Sour Creams, 2- 48oz Breyer’s Ice Cream (Chocolate & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough), 4- 10oz boxes of Green Giant Frozen Broccoli in cheese sauce, 1- Del Monte Gold Extra Sweet Pineapple, 1- Mt. Olive Dill Relish, 2- 8 count Pillsbury Crescent dinner rolls, 2- 2 count boxes of Pillsbury Pie Crust, 1- 32oz Yoplait creamy vanilla yogurt, 1- French’s French Fried Onions, 4- boxes of Nature Valley Granola Bars, 2- 11.5 oz boxes of Cheez-its, 2- boxes of Mueller’s Whole Wheat Penne Pasta, 2- 16oz boxes of Velveeta, 1- 30ct Zyrtec, 1- 84ct Cottonelle Flushable Wipes refill, 6- 40oz bags of Wonka Assorted Candy, 4- 40oz bags of Neslte Assorted Miniatures, 1- 10oz bottle of Vaseline Intesive Care lotion, and 2- bottles of Clorox liquid bleach!)

$218.26 (including tax) worth of items for $105.25 out of pocket (including tax)! I saved $113.01!!!! That’s a savings of 52% off of my grocery bill!!!!

Here’s How I did it:*

(2 ) 32oz bags of Publix Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts Originally $6.99/bag

• Publix Ad 10/19-11/04 Savings  -$2.00/bag, (making it $4.99/bag)

(1) 2.92lb Chuck Roast Originally $3.99/lb ($11.65)

• Publix Ad 10/19-11/04 Savings Price of $2.99/lb, meaning -$2.92 (making it $8.73)

(1) 28 pack of 16.9oz bottles of Publix Spring Water Originally $4.49

• Publix Ad 10/19-11/04 Savings of  -$0.50 (making it $3.99)

(2) 8oz Breakstone Sour Creams Originally $1.03/tub

• B1G1 Free (making it $0.52/tub)

(2) 48oz Breyer’s Ice Cream (Chocolate & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough) Originally $5.15/container

• B1G1 Free (making it $2.575/container)
• -$0.75 /1 Breyers Ice Cream, SmartSource 10/18, (making it $2.20/container)

(4) 10oz boxes of Green Giant Frozen Broccoli in cheese sauce Originally 3 for $5 or $1.67/box

• (4) -$0.50/2 Any Size Green Giant Frozen Vegetables, 10/21 printable, (making it $1.42/box)

(1) Del Monte Gold Extra Sweet Pineapple Originally $4.49

• Publix Ad Special Savings Price -$0.50, (making it $3.99)
• -$0.75/1 Del Monte Gold Extra Sweet Pineapple, printable, (making it $3.24)

(1) Mt. Olive Dill Relish Originally $1.59

• -$0.50 Any Mt. Olive product, printable, (making it $1.09)

(2) 8 count Pillsbury Crescent dinner rolls Originally $2.37/package

• -$0.50/2 Pillsbury Crescent dinner rolls, 10/4 printable, (making it $1.87/package)

(2) 2 count boxes of Pillsbury Pie Crust Originally $3.09/box

• -$1.00/2 Pillsbury Pie Crust wyb 2 Pillsbury Crescent dinner rolls, peelie on pie crust box, (making it $2.49/box)

(1) 32oz Yoplait creamy vanilla yogurt Originally $2.59/container

• Publix Advertised Buy Savings of 2 for $4, (making it $2.00/container)
• -$1.00/1 Yoplait 32oz yogurt, peelie on 32oz Yoplait yogurt, (making it $1.00/container)

(1) French’s French Fried Onions Originally $2.19

• -$0.55/1 Any size French’s French Fried Onions, printable, (making it $1.64)

(4)  boxes of Nature Valley Granola Bars Originally $3.07/box

• Publix Ad Special Savings 4 for $10 (-$0.57/box), (making it $2.50/box)
• -$4.00 off 4 General Mills or Nature Valley products, Publix Coupon in 10/19 add, (making it $1.50/box)
• (4) -$0.40/1 Nature Valley Granola bars, printable, (making it $1.10/box)

(2) 11.5 oz boxes of Reduced Fat Cheez-its Originally $4.09/box

• B1G1 free (making it $2.04/box)
• (2) -$0.75/1 Cheez-it select products, printable, (making it $1.29/box)

(2) boxes of Mueller’s Whole Wheat Penne Pasta Originally $1.39/box

• B1G1 free (making it $0.69/box)
• (2) -$0.55/1 Muellers Whole Wheat Pasta or Pasta Ribbons (making it $0.14/box)

(2) 16oz boxes of Velveeta Originally $3.59/box

• B1G1 free (making it $1.79/box)

(1) GE Energy Efficient Light bulb 13watt=60watt  Single Pack $3.99

• No sale, no coupons…but needed!

(1) 30ct Zyrtec Originally $18.69

• -$4.00 Zyrtec Allergy 30-45ct or ZyrtecD, Publix Green Advantage Buy Flier 10/3-10/30, (making it $14.69)
• -$4.00 Zyrtec 24ct+, Red Plum 10/11, (making it $10.69)

(1) 84ct Cottonelle Flushable Wipes refill Originally $3.99

• -$0.50 off  2 Cotteonelle Flushable Wipes or 2- 24ct refill, or 1-84ct refill, printable (making it $3.49)

(6) 40oz bags of Wonka Assorted Candy Originally $6.99/bag

• B1G1 free Wonka Assorted Candy or Laffy Taffy or Nestle Assorted Miniatures 40 or 48oz bag (making it $3.49/bag)
• (6) -$2.00/1 Wonka Assorted Candy 24oz+, printable, (making it $1.49/bag)

(4) 40oz bags of Neslte Assorted Miniatures Originally $8.99/bag

• B1G1 free Wonka Assorted Candy or Laffy Taffy or Nestle Assorted Miniatures 40 or 48oz bag (making it $4.54/bag)
• (4) -$2.00/1 Nestle Candy 24oz+, printable, (making it $2.54/bag)

(1) 10oz bottle of Vaseline Intesive Care lotion Originally $3.47

• -$1.00 off Vaseline lotion 6.5oz-24.5oz, Publix Green Advantage Buys Flier 10/03-10/30, (making it $2.47)
• -$0.50/1 Vaseline lotion 200ml+, except Renewal or Glow, Red Plum 10/18, (making it $1.97)

(2) bottles of Clorox liquid bleach Originally $2.21/bottle

• Publix Ad Special Savings Price 3 for $5, (making it $1.67/bottle)
• -$1.50/2 Clorox Products, coupon promotional mailer from The Clorox Company, (makes it $0.92/bottle)

Total Spent: $105.25    Total Saved: $113.01

It was a GREAT day at Publix!

* If the coupon I used is found online, you will see a link to it labeled “printable” next to it.  If it is from an insert in the Sunday Paper it will have the inserts name (Smart Source, Red Plum, or P&G) and the date of the paper it was found in.  If it is peeled off of a container it will say “peelie.”  If it comes from one of those little in store machines with the blinking light that spits them out it will say “blinkie.” If its from somewhere else, I will explain where.

What are you reading? October 28, 2009

I love to read.  I admit it. So does my husband.  He manages to press on and read more often than I do (a lot out of necessity for study and sermon prep), and I often find myself too busy during the day and too tired at night to read as much as I would like.  Truly there is a discipline in making time for reading.  Danny, as I said before, is much better at it than I.  However, I made the decision in October to get back into a reading groove, and I am enjoying it.

The first book I picked up after making that decision was Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.  A classic to say the least.  If you haven’t read it, you need to.  If you have read it, you should read it again.   It is a poignant story of  the life of Jane Eyre, a young girl we see mature through the pages of the novel into the woman with much knowledge and wisdom who retrospectively narrates the novel for us.  It is set in nineteenth century England and addresses themes of justice, love, religion, providence and social class (to name a few).  The novel begins by drawing the reader into the life struggles of an orphaned child battling to survive the abusive family circumstances she finds herself in.  We, the readers,  journey with Jane through the providential twists and turns of her life as she seeks to find contentment, belonging, and love, without compromising her integrity.  It is an engaging book filled with mystery and other elements akin to gothic fiction of the Victorian era.  If you love suspense, love stories, mystery, nineteenth century literature, and/or well written fiction with complex Christian themes of providence and faith, then you will absolutely love this novel.  It is full of all of the above!  So if you’re looking for your next great read, pick up/check out a copy of Jane Eyre today and get reading.

So what am I reading now?

I’m reading through a collection of Grimm’s Fairy Tales.

When Danny and I were engaged he bought me a copy from Barnes & Noble while we were out on a date, and while I did read one of the Grimm brothers’ tales, I was so consumed with my own fairy tale that came true when my prince charming asked me to be his wife that I didn’t have much time for reading.  Needless to say, almost three years later I am finally taking time to read through the collection. But enough about me…

What are you reading?

I’d love to hear what you’re reading these days and any recommendations you have. Or, if you’ve read Jane Eyre, share your thoughts.

You know you go to Starbucks too often when….??? October 26, 2009

…the barista with an English accent you love to hate isn’t working the drive through anymore and you kind of miss getting reprimanded for ordering things out-of-order.  (Miss you Debbie…even though we didn’t see eye to eye on ordering a pairing!)

….you order your favorite drink and instead of giving you your total the voice on the other end of the drive through speaker says, “Are you by yourself today?” ….not because they are a stalker, but because usually you and your husband go through the drive through together and he places the order.  Yes, that was my experience this morning when I placed my order in the drive through of the Starbucks we frequent (apparently all too much).  I ordered my “usual” which for Fall/Winter is a Decaf Tall 4 Pump Pumpkin Spice Latte, and the voice on the other end asks, “Are you by yourself today?”  And after we chat a while via drive through speaker about me not going into work today, I get my total.  The conversation then continues at the window “When I heard you ordering I thought, ‘Is she by herself today?’  I was surprised.”  And that’s the conversation I had with our favorite barista, Sandra.  Always smiles, gets our drink order right without us having to repeat it, and apparently remembers us!

So do you have a “You know you go to Starbucks too often when…” story?  If so, feel free to share!  I know I got a good laugh out of my experience today when I discovered we go to Starbucks too often!