Just an update on different areas of life

I have a new job. I've been here for just over a month and am really liking it. I'm still working for UC Davis, but now I'm at the Medical Center in Sacramento instead of the main campus. I'm doing a lot of the same tasks plus more. I work with doctors and fellow staffers on a daily basis, which I think is cool. My division is located right next to the auditorium so I often get free food from events, which I see as a total score, and my new co-workers are all very nice so far. There are a few down sides though. The evening commute is terrible and torturous. Staff parking is located 8 blocks from my building, so I get to walk that twice a day in this miserable weather. And once again I am the youngest person I have met in my building - by at least 6 years. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I was hoping to have some new co-workers I could become good friends with and I just don't see that happening with such a big disconnect in ages, but I'm not going to be closed minded. I have a Christmas party on Friday and George and I can feel people out then, outside of work.

I have gained back some of the weight I managed to lose, so I'm on a mission to lose it again, plus a ton more. George has promised to help me accomplish this goal, which I am very appreciative about. :) We start tonight! I’m starting off light, with maybe a brisk walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes and then some weights, and over time will work my way to longer, more in depth workouts.

We are still working on our couponing. We’ve managed to do pretty well lately. We’re shopping a lot more at Safeway instead of Bel Air. With Safeway’s new Just for U program, I’m able to load e-coupons onto my Safeway card and use those on top of the paper manufacturer coupons, and they collect information on things you usually buy and give you special deals based on the data. For example, we were able to get boxes of Pasta Roni for $0.89/each, when normally they were $1.60. That’s nearly half off! I was able to get orange juice much cheaper than usually, and many more things. So far I am very impressed with their new system. We still went to Bel Air for things like produce and some meats because they have a much better selection in those areas.

2010 is almost over! I can’t believe how quickly this year has gone by. I admit at times it felt like it could not go by fast enough, where I wanted nothing more than for time to speed up and leave all of what was happening behind, and of course those times seemed to draaaaag on endlessly. I'm excited to ring in the new year! I just don't know how I'll go about it this year. Maybe someone will have a fabulous party that George and I can attend :)

I, for one, am very glad to be where I am. I’m short on money, but I’m never short on love, happiness, and family, and I am thankful for that. Thank you to everyone that has helped me through this year. I am forever grateful to you.

Coupon-ing Part 2

I may be no good at this. In fact, my first attempt I think I can classify as a failure. Last Wednesday when the Safeway ad came out, there seemed to be some great deals, and there were. They had 12 packs of Pepsi buy 2 get 3 free, plus CRV in California, and some other great prices. So I went through my coupon collection and some online databases to see what I could find. I managed to snag some craft cheese for only $0.69/each which was great, I bought 10 cases of soda just to stock up on the great price, which gave me a savings of $37.74 on the soda alone. But I'm horrible when I shop alone. I walk through the aisles and pick things up here and there that I don't need, which usually aren't on that big of a sale, and those add up so quickly! For instance, I bought a package of fresh bagels, and they only lasted me 4 days before they had mold on them. I had only eaten two of the six. And I paid full price for them. In the end, according to my receipt, I paid $95.75 and saved $84.83, 48%, BUT Safeway marks up their groceries so much I'm not sure if it was really that great of a deal. I was hoping to not spend more than $50. I overshot that goal by a ways.

I don't know how these people do it! So much self control! I guess it also helps that most of these women live in two income homes and can afford to stock up on things when a great sale comes along. I only get paid once a month, and after paying all my bills, I'm left with barely $300 to cover groceries, toiletries, and anything else I want/need for the next 30 days or so. And when I go grocery shopping and spend $95 on the first, I'm not left with much. I need to find these really great deals where people walk away with free stuff, but I can't seem to find them!

I'm also learning that unless you live near an Albertson's (and if you live anywhere in northern California you DON'T) you can't really do much. Albertson's seems to be the only grocery store that doubles coupons, gives "catalina's" which are like register rewards, or store credit for your next purchase, they also round coupons up to $1. So these people can go to Albertson's with a coupon that's only listed as $1 off a particular item that's on sale for $2, and the store doubles the coupon's value to $2 off, they get that item free! I can't find any stores in my area that double coupons or round the value up. I don't live near any supermarkets that are generally cheaper such as Win Co nor is there a Dollar Tree that sells groceries anywhere near me. I would have to drive 30 miles to get to one, and then the cost of gas to make the trip outweighs any savings I may gain at said store.

ALTHOUGH, I think I did have one success over the weekend. CVS was having a sale on L'Oreal Color Vive shampoo, 2/$5. I also had two $1/1 coupons, which brought the total down to $3 for both, or $1.50/each for a bottle of shampoo that is normally $4.99. Over 50% savings. I currently do not have a working printer at home or else I would have printed 2 more coupons and gotten 2 more bottles to stock up. I thought it was a very good price.

I have also begun to sign up for free samples and coupons everywhere I can. Proctor & Gamble's website is offering many free samples that you can choose from and they will ship them directly to you. It takes up to 6 weeks, but hey, they're free! And why pay to try a product you may not like when you don't have to.

There's a great website you can join for free that is a database for tons and tons of coupons. It's Hot Coupon World and there you can search by brand name, key word, what type of coupon - ie printable, peelie, etc - I have found that very helpful. I've been looking at store ads and if I see something that's on a really good sale already, I try to find a coupon for that product to get it for as little out of pocket as possible. I'm still in the beginning stages, but I'm not giving up. I need to start saving and I know any money I can save will help.

New Goal - Be a Coupon Aficionado

So, I'm going to try and start to use coupons to get these crazy and outrageous deals I keep hearing people get. One woman managed to get 10 boxed of name brand cereal and actually had the store pay her back 9 cents! I've decided I need to get on this because paying $125-$200/mo for groceries is absurd. So far, I've found one blog that I think is very helpful, but since I'm just starting out, I'm not privy to all these good deals. The blog is Fabulessly Frugal and they have all the great tips and lists on what sales to go for and what coupon combinations to use and more. Granted it's based out of Idaho, so not everything applies to me, but if spending a little time each day going over their material is going to help me save anything, I'm thinking it could be worth it. So far this is what I've learned:

1. For online coupons - check websites like coupons.com on the first of each month to see all the new coupons that have been added. You can only print certain coupons up to 2 times, and they could expire at any time, so I'm thinking I may print out all FOOD/GROCERY related coupons twice and save them for when stores like Bel Air have good deals. ALSO, on the first of the next month, the coupons will either be replaced with new coupons, or they will roll-over and you will be able to print them out 2 more times.

2. Sunday Papers - I'm currently looking for a deal for the local Sacramento Bee so I can subscribe to either the F/S/Sun. paper only or just the Sunday paper to receive the coupon inserts that can only be found there. Many times stores will let you combine these manufacturer coupons for even better savings.

3. SAVE ALL COUPONS! Don't use them right away for an item that is full price. Apparently everything goes on sale once in a while, and if you have that coupon still, you'll manage to snag even better savings.

4. Get organized. Some places say once you print your online coupons, don't cut them out. Get a binder with the clear page protectors and put everything from that week or month in one page protector. Make a list of all the coupons in that section (organized whichever way is best for you to find them the fastest/easiest - ie alphabetically by brand, by category, etc). Or, clip the coupons and get an accordion organizer and group them in a similar fashion.

5. Stay on top of the deals. Retail stores such as Target and Wal-Mart put out their specials and adds every Sunday. BUT grocery stores start their new specials and adds every Wednesday, so be aware.

Since I've just recently started looking into this (I'm mean very recent, as in Monday, lol) and it's toward the end of the month, I don't have very many coupons saved up and many will expire in the next week. So my plan is to try and collect as many as I can so I have them when the good deals and sales present themselves. I'm also going to try and only buy groceries when I absolutely need to. IE eat everything in my cupboards until they are bare and I need to buy more. No more impulse buys or trips to the store for just one or two things. The cost of the gas used for that trip to the store is not worth the item(s) in questions. UNLESS it is something perishable such as milk, or dairy in general, etc.

I'm hoping I can stick with this. I'm not sure yet, but I'm going to try. My goal is never to buy anything for full price unless absolutely necessary.

Yep

I still hate Apple and iTunes. They screw me over once again. Thank you very much.

Mom, This Is For You

I know how you love You Tube and to watch people sing and anything and everything. I thought you'd get a kick out of how awesome this kid is. He's performing at his 6th Grade Talent show.

Funny Pictures

I saw these pictures today and had to share some of them. They had me laughing so much. Mom, you may be able to relate to the first one. Lol.

Enjoy!

Mother's Day Tea

Yesterday I went to the Bay Area to celebrate Mother's Day early with Grandma, Mom, Aunt Janeen, baby Audrina, and my cousin Isabella. My aunt, ChaChaneen, was hostess and made everything by scratch. We had mimosas, courtesy of my mom Tea Time With Melody, scones, berries, cumber salads made from my great grandmother's recipe, and Eggs Benedict.

My first time ever having Eggs Benedict. My aunt and I had them the traditional way with the eggs over easy. Delicious!!!

Mom and I before the start of the tea. Beautiful ladies :)

My niece Audrina and her Great Grandma, my Grandma

Audrina and I. My eye's going a little funky in this picture, please ignore it :). I'm also wearing my first pair of real sandals in a very, very long time. Everyone seemed to approve.

It was a great day with all the ladies of the family. I wish I had more pictures of everyone together! I will have to make sure I remember next time to take more! Thank you to Aunt Janeen for throwing the wonderful get together!

I Officially

Have yellow nails :) I've never painted them a color so bright, but I'm really liking it! I know this isn't a very exciting post but I wanted to share.

I'm back

I'm back in the real world! Talking and connecting with people once again. And it feels good. :)

Things you may not know about me

Do you like blue cheese? Nope.

Have you ever smoked? Mom, aunt Janeen, don't read this...yes. I tried it once and hated it. I was under the influence of alcohol at the time if that's any consolation.... I told you not to read it.

Do you own a gun? No. Not yet anyway. My father has been trying to get me to get one. Hasn't convinced me yet, but that's not to say I won't ever get one.

What flavor of Kool Aid is your favorite? Fruit Punch.

Do you get nervous before dentist appointments? Nope.

What do you think of hot dogs? Delicious with mayo, but wouldn't eat them that often.

Favorite Christmas movie? The Santa Clause.

Favorite thing to drink in the morning? Either coffee or orange juice. Usually coffee.

Can you do push ups? Can I do A push up? Yes. Can I do more than five regular push ups in a row? No.

What's your favorite piece of jewelry? Don't have one.

Favorite hobby? Um...I'm going to say... I don't have one. I enjoy too many things to have a favorite.

Do you have ADD? Not that I know of.

What's one trait you hate about yourself? I interrupt people without thinking. I don't do it to be rude or on purpose, it just happens. I'm working on it.

Middle name? Nichole.

Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment.
1. I really like the song that's just started playing...what is it? Map of the Problematique by Muse
2. My goal of trying to eat better is not going so well. I need more self control when it comes to food.
3. I need to motivate myself to be more active.

Name 3 drinks you regularly drink. Coffee, Water, Cranberry Juice.

Current worry? Losing my job.

Current hate right now? The two idiots who would be responsible if I did lose my job.

Favorite place to be? Nowhere in particular.

How did you bring in the new year? At a casino.

Where would you like to go? Everywhere.

Name three people who will complete this. It's highly unlikely anyone will.

Do you own slippers? Yes.

What shirt are you wearing? Long sleeved shirt with a snowflake pattern and a black sweater to cover said snowflake pattern seeing as it's late April.

Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? I don't think I ever have, but they seem like they would be too warm for me.

Can you whistle? Yes.

Favorite color? Green.

Would you be a pirate? Most likely.

What songs do you sing in the shower? I wanted to say something outrageous, but the truth is I don't sing in the shower. If there was music playing while in the shower, I would most likely sing along with whatever was on.

Favorite girl's name: Elizabeth.

Favorite boy's name: Edward.

What's in your pocket right now? Chapstick. Probably some lint. You never know.

Last thing that made you laugh? "I didn't know there were slushie impostors!" My own joke btw.

What vehicle do you drive? 2003 Ford Mustang. Green.

Worst injury you've ever had? Probably cutting open my finger while slicing an apple in junior high and needing stitches. Or breaking my nose, again in junior high, with a wiffle ball in P.E. You can decide which is worse. And yes, I said a wiffle ball. I know.

Do you love where you live? Compared to other places I could be living, yes.

How many TVs do you have in your house? Two.

Who is your loudest friend? Couldn't say. Honestly.

Do you have any pets? Two cats - Snickers and Spike.

Does someone have a crush on you? Is this junior high again?

Your favourite book? The Harry Potter series.

Do you collect anything? Not really.

Favorite Sports Team? I don't follow them much, but I have always like the SF '49ers.

What song do you want played at your funeral? Not sure but definitely something by Matchbox 20.

So it's been a while

Work has been slow today, so I've spent time looking through blogs and kept thinking how awesome and creative people can be. Why are strangers so interesting? Lol. Who am I to question it? To anyone I started to "follow" today, I hope you don't mind.

I plan on writing more when my life is a bit less complicated. Until then, happy Wednesday :)

~ME~

Sometimes these things really surprise me...

Cancer Outlook for 2010

6/22 – 7/22
Year 2010 Overview

One thing that all Crabs (astrological Cancers or the seafood type of crab) know deep in their hearts is that someone, somewhere out there knows how great it would be to bust them wide open and eat them with melted butter. The big news for you this year, Cancer, is that Pluto has moved into your Seventh House, which rules marriage, partnerships and close relationships. This means that someone may very well be cracking your heart open in the next year.

Cancer has a bit of a reputation for enjoying doom and gloom. You don't. You just seem to get more than your fair share of it. It must be that thick shell of yours. Everyone assumes you can just take it.

The good news is that you earned that reputation because you can take it, and more. And often, your greatest moments come when you have overcome the greatest obstacles. Thankfully, the roadblocks you face in 2010 won't be that devastating, but they'll certainly give you an opportunity to shine. New support and new energy will be entering your life from unexpected and overlooked people and things, and you'll be able to soar above it all!