The Art of Couponing: I Love Shoes

Yessss, Nuncio. You're coming home to mama! *muah*

Anyone who knows me, knows I love shoes. But, I've been trying to live more on a budget. I used to buy shoes once a month at minimum. Now, I try and catch the sales. And right now Nine West is having a good sale. These sweet babies are on sale 60% off right now AND Nine West is offering free shipping. Hit them up now!

PS-I own many many pairs of Nine West shoes and highly recommend the Barbe for a classic pump that goes with almost anything. I have a red pair that I wore with a black dress to a UGA themed wedding and made lots of girls green with envy ;) I also love the BooBoo style's fit. I bought a pair of Escher once, but they are a challenge to fit my foot in and walk properly.

Caturday Saturday: Window Perch Adventure

When my parents came back from Tennessee last week, they brought the grandkittens a surprise...

What's this papa? I must investigate...

Oh! A perch! Now I don't have to hang out of the window sill...

Please note: 25 lbs weight limit. Sorry chunk. You can only sit alone. Meanwhile, Jackson and Scooby could share.

Papa putting it together.

Elliot wanted to help.

Almost ready for a test run!

Elliot didn't want to get up there, but I helped her jump right in.

Gotta milk it first. You know...test out the fluffiness.

Look at that face!

Meanwhile, this is where we found Jackson.

You cannot get me in my box fortress!

The Art of Couponing: Big CVS Deals

If you haven't seen it by now, I'll post here for you all to see. There are some good deals at CVS right now. Just check out Southern Savers or Coupon Divas for some easy check lists.

Here is the deal I did this week: Buy $20 worth of Playtex and/or Schick and get $10 ECB back.

I bought...
Edge Shave Gel, regular $2.87 (on sale for $2.19), used coupons for .55 off, paid $1.64
Skintimate Shave Gel, regular $3.59 (on sale for $2.19), lost my coupon so I paid $2.19
(2) 40 ct. Playtex Gentle Glide Tampons, $8.49 each (used 2 $1/1 coupons) and paid $7.49 each
Also used $4 in ECB off my total that expire soon.
Total out of pocket cost: $14.81 + tax, but earned $10 ECB to use in store. Which I'm thinking about using to buy 4 cases of Diet Dr Pepper (on sale $2.50 per 12 pack).

I would have made out better if I could have bought the Shave Creams, but they were SOLD OUT when I got there. I know you can do a rain-check at CVS, but I was in a hurry and I honestly didn't need it that bad. I mostly steal Tim's shave gel, but since there was a chance to buy some girly kind, I did (and bought one to go in his stash as well). In fact, I think Walgreen's is also having a good deal on the Shave Cream if anyone has the coupons leftover from missing out on the CVS deal.

Snacking at Our House: Ricotta Cheese Chocolate Chip Muffins

Saw these and knew I had leftover ricotta to use before it went bad. Also, I wanted to get back to trying to make four new recipes before the end of the month. So here is my best shot at attempting that with only one week left in the month. And if you don't subscribe to her blog, I highly suggest doing so. I love skinnytaste.com.

They are pretty yum, but why do they always stick? Blast!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups self rising cake flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 cup I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Light (I used yogurt butter because that's all we have)
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 large egg whites
• 8 oz fat free ricotta cheese (I used low fat because it's all I had)
• 1/2 tbsp vanilla
• 9 tbsp mini semi-sweet chocolate chip morsels (I used regular because it is all I had)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Mix flour and baking soda. 
3. Mix and cream butter and sugar. 
4. Beat egg whites and add to butter/sugar mixture. 
5. Mix in ricotta cheese, then flour mixture and vanilla. 
6. Fold in chocolate chips and spoon into lined muffin tins about 3/4 filled.
7. Bake at 375° for 15-16 minutes and let cool.

For me it made 14 muffins, but I think it was supposed to make 12.

Caturday Saturday: Magic Floating Cat

There are some things in life for whatever reason that just make me incredibly happy. This is one of them: a trick that Tim does with the cats. He's always silent and sneaks up and does it when I least expect it.

Hello mom!

Caturday Saturday: On a Tuesday...

Yeah yeah, I know...It isn't Saturday, but that doesn't mean I can't dream. This week is quite groggy and I can't put my finger on why. Anywho! Here are the fur babies from last week:

That is a clip of Jackson. You may need to turn up your speakers, but in the first few seconds you can hear him chirping. Yes...like a bird...Jackson is by far our quirkiest cat. He chirps, meows and barks/growls. 

I'm always a sucker for a shot of Ellie and her daddy spending time together.

Saying Goodbye to Harry

Last night was something I've both looked forward to and dreaded. I'm actually glad I was able to recruit Tim for the task. We went to what will probably be my last "first midnight showing" of a movie. Not to say I won't ever do it again, but I just don't know how many more I'll be dying to see at the first available moment.

I will never forget how I came to love Harry Potter. Tim and I were dating, and it was the summer after he graduated and I was finished with my first year of college. Tim's little sister Sarah wanted to go to the midnight release. Well, I had been one of those obnoxious naysayers. I wasn't interested in "kid's books" and the like.

But, something happened. I casually opened the cover of the first book at Tim's family's kitchen table. I started to read the first page. We took Sarah to the local Books A Million at midnight so she could get her book. I kept reading. I think I read through the night. I remember finishing quickly enough that I could tell them all I was sold. Hooked. Transformed into a total Harry Potter freak.

A couple years later. I went to a midnight release to get my own copy of the next novel. I remember reading as much through the night as I could. And a few years later, I was in graduate school, in line with my Auburn pals getting my final copy.

While the journey for me has been a bit shorter than others, it has been an exciting 8 years for me. I really think JK Rowling has set a new standard in fiction writing for multiple generations. I don't know how easy that will be to top.