Publix Savings

Today I went to Publix to get all the BOGO deals and use my multiple coupons!

I spent $43.94 and saved $66.43.  I am striving to someday only spend $2 and save over $100.  LOL Yes, it is possible to do. 

It just so happened that while at Publix I saw Liza from Addicted to  Saving and she saved over $160.00.  The weird thing was that as I was walking in I had a feeling she would be in there.  I have never seen her in there before, didn't even know she shopped at "my" Publix. 

Anyways I use her site a lot to have her practically spoon feed me on the deals, where to find the coupons, which coupon inserts to go to, etc.  I also use coupons.com, and facebook.

I actually do use the product that I purchase, I do not just buy just because I have a coupon.  I am pretty well stocked up on laundry soap, barbeque sauce, A-1 sauce, pasta, nuts and pickles for awhile.  The cool thing is that I also am able to donate to helping hands, a ministry at my church.  I do love to save money. Who doesn't right?

new sod

It is beautiful!

My only concern are the weeds!  Those little suckers seem to never die and they seem to find their way onto our turf.  This is Zoysia and not too common in our area. Praying that it takes good root and stays nice and healthy and weed free!

Now, we need new borders around our borders and new mulch!

project # 2 done

Next is my chest of drawers; sand, prime, sand, paint white, sand and distress and then wax

Not till late next week!

sodding

we decided that we would tear out the front lawn and resod.

WHY??  That was harrrrd work!  Hubby, Little E and I took it all out in one day and took one truck load to the dump.  Today we take the second load and pull out any stray grass, roots, etc.  Tomorrow out new Zoysia grass in being delivered. 

The dogs do not like dirt or mud.  They have to be taken to the neighbors to do their business.

Stay tuned for an update tomorrow, I hope!

Ancestry mother lode

Green family

well for me anyways.  I went onto Ancestry a few nights ago and plugged in Hubby's paternal grandmother.  Holy Smoke's I traced back to 1685!  Well, I didn't trace back but someone who was evedently searching this same line did and their tree was right there on ancestry!  Of course I will have to check, double check, and verify to see if this is his family.  Lord knows that I do not want to put something in the family book that is not accurate!  This is so much fun, especially when you find treasure like this.  Apparently England kept better records than we did here. 

Thankfullness

This morning at church I was reminded to be thankfull in all things!

All the time, no matter what!

I sometimes forget about the things that I seem to take for granted.

Lord, please forgive me in this.

Thank you Lord for the roof over my head, the bed I sleep in each nigth, the food that I put into my stomach, the car that I drive, my beautiful family, and all of the treats, treasures and blessings that you bring into my life on a daily basis.

Collosians 1: 3

Week in the Life

Thinking about doing a Week in the Life this year.

Hmmm, I tend to get myself into too many projects

but I so love the memories and looking back over

our life, so maybe I will have to squeeze one more thing

in before I go back to work and school!!!

Check it out over here

Blast from the past

Hubby, Little E and I headed up to St. Augustine

to meet up with "old" friends that we have not seen

in over 17 years! 

We decided to meet half way between us

and that would be St. Augustine.

They were neighbors of ours in Hawaii,

they lived below us and have 3 kids.

Of course our kids played together.

We toured the city just a bit cause

we were really there just to visit and catch up.

Plus it felt like it was 150 degrees out!

June and Red, aren't they cute?

dinner Friday night at Harry's

we did get to see Fort Matanzas

had lunch here on Saturday

Chick 2 and John met us

dinner at Saltwater Cowboy
I know it appears we ate a lot, I guess we did!

crawfish

Eli shared

gator tail!  YUCK!!

 We did have a memorable trip and it was so great catching

up with wonderful friends.

I gotta tell you, these people have stories!

We loved listening to them, asking questions and laughing so hard about them.

They need to record these wonderful memories of their's

Fruit Pizza

MMMMM!

We had lovely people/family over to

the house on Sunday.

There has to be a name for them,

I just don't know what it is!!

They are Chick #2's in laws,

so would they be our in-laws too?

Anyways I made a roast, mashed potatoes, gravy,

carrots, green beans,  and rolls and this

fruit pizza

I really liked it and they liked it ( I hope) but

hubby said it wasn't like his sisters.

That wasn't too nice!

I used the same recipe, except I may have baked

the crust a little too much.

The recipe is from Paula Deen

on Food Network.
I would recommend this and make it again.

Chapter 3 Captivating

The biggest a-ha that we got from chapters 2-3 was the idea that Adam was right there next to Eve when she took the apple. All this time we thought Adam was off frollicking in the garden, but he was right there BESIDE her. Eve bought into the lie that God was holding out on her and thought she "must take matters into her own hands". The curse of pain in childbirth is the LEAST of our troubles. .Eve and the rest of us women were then cursed with the heartache of relational loneliness and the urge to control (especially her man) and that feeling that she has to "take matters into her own hands" for things to be "done right", to feel safe and to trust. (controlling driven, guarded or the opposite.. desolate, codependent and needy). Either way, we feel an emptiness that NOTHING but Jesus will fill So that we may seek HIM for relationship. Luke 10:42

Now although we have believed Adam was free from blame, he was NOT. He stood passive and was not the spirtual leader of "his household". He checked out, remained passive, and stood by while Eve took the apple, then he ate it, too! The soil cursed with thorns (gen 3:16) was the LEAST of Man's problems. Man is cursed with futility and failure. Men are forever striving to be better at work. Make more, appear more successful, provide more, do more. His God-given strength becomes surrendered ( weak, passive man) or unglued (violent, driven)p. 50
the above is a recap from Sheila Shynski!

Chapter 2 Captivating

What Eve Alone Can Tell

I knew this already but never really processed it in my brain....

Our Heavenly Father is an artist!!

Look at creation...

in all of its glory and splendor

God created the earth

the light

the waters

then he fashions the plants, trees, flowers

He fills the night sky

birds

animals

fish

then man

but wait......

something is not right, not good, missing,  not complete!

the Lord cast a deep slumber on the man and He

took one of his ribs, closed over the flesh and the Lord

God built the rib that He had taken from the man

and made it into a woman. He then brought her to the man

She is the cresendo, the final astonishing work of God.

She is the Master's finishing touch..

The world was incomplete without her

and the world is incomplete without each and everyone of you!

That is significant

God is all about relationships

women love relationships

He is tenderhearted who yearns for a relationship with us, with me!?

He wants to be loved by us.

How have I missed this?

He is strong, powerful, all knowing, how can He need me?

Seek after Him! (Mark 12:29-30)

women have certain qualties that are essential to relationships

qualities that speak of God

we are inviting, vulnerable, tender, embody mercy, we are fierce and devoted

He is longing for you my friend!

Awwww, so Refreshing...

The theme is Refreshed

over at

Project Alicia Blog

and
Live and Love Out Loud

Go on over there and check out

how cute their blogs are and see all

the refreshing photos!

I caught this female cardinal one hot Florida afternoon.

I took the picture through my window.  I saw her the

previous day and  tried to take the picture from the

front door but she was frightened away.

She said, "No way are you taking my picture

while I bathe." 

So I caught her through the window the very
next afternoon.
I really wanted her hubby to be
in the picture also. There have
been a few times where I have
seen the both of them dipping!
So Cute!

She really looks like she is getting

Refreshed!

linking up to

Alicia
and
Live and Love Out Loud

and to this new one I found today!

before and after

This is Little E's dresser before I got a hold of it with the sander

After........

I sanded the body and drawers with a sanding block,

primed it, painted it green, sanded some more,

painted it red, sanded it again, then painted it

black and tried to distress it a little so that the green

and red show through in various places.

For the top I sanded it down to the bare wood

and then put a walnut stain on it. The  last

step was to poly the top.

I also waxed the body.

I bought the handles at Hobby Lobby when they

were 50% off, which came to $2.50 a piece.

I also bought gift wrap at Hobby Lobby and

lined the drawers.

Not what I totally envisioned this piece to

look like in the end, but

good enough.  I was envisioning a bit

more refined on the chipped up areas.

update to an oldie

This was posted way back but I am reposting cause

she just got an embellishemnt!

When my mom passed away we went to clean out her home and

this is one of the things that we found in the basement.  It

was dirty, water damaged and needing some TLC.

I wanted it but hubby wasn't so sure.

I won!

We brought her home and she sat around

for awhile looking pitiful. I wasn't really

sure how to help her or even sure that

I wanted to tackle such a big project.

I found caromal colours

on a blog and decided to give it a try.

I was going for a more shabby, french chic look

and hubby was cringing at the thought of even

painting over an antique!

Being that he is a master craftsman

this was a stretch for him.

Truthfully there was a lot of

disagreement over this piece.

But in the end it all worked out!

Now this is what I added today to her.

Now I have my french look that I wanted.

I added paper liner inside and it really makes this piece pop. I think

I will leave the doors open just so I can look at her.

The paper is from Hobby Lobby and is really just wrapping paper.

I used Duro all purpose spray adhesive that worked great.

Her knobs also came from Hobby Lobby.
To see the original post got to Nov, 2010

An up and coming project

This also came from my mom and was also in the basement.
It doesn't look so bad in the picture, but old girl has
some damage on her beautiful legs and on her top side.
I am thinking I want to do a duck egg blue
from Annie Sloan Paints.
What do you think?

from birth to standing

This momma doesn't seem to mind that there is

a crowd watching or even a care in the

world that she is being filmed

for an entire world to see.

The beauty of God's creation

and a mother's love

Mama Blue

Last year we had a family of Eastern Blue Birds that took up residency in this awesome little house that hubby made. It was so adorable to watch momma and pappa tending to them and when it was time for them to fly away, oh my I had a blast watching them!! Momma was in a tree and Pappa was in the bush and I just know that they were prompting them with all of their little tweets. I know because I could hear them! Then a few months later another family came or it could of been the same family. I watched them daily- building, sitting, feeding and I also watched a big hawk eyeing them! I worried about them so! One day I came home and the door to their little house was open!! GASP!!! There was no way that they could of done that!! I know that mean old hawk got them!! It took many months for "new tenants" to move in but they did. Hubby put a new latch on so that "mean old hawk" can't get them. I hope this means we are back in business and will have many more blue bird families.

This photo was from March but I am reposting for

Be Still

Lake Murray Prosperity, SC
shot early Memorial Day morning.

and know that I am God.
I have to remind myself of this daily.
The control part of me tries to take over
so I have to continually shove her to
the side......
AWWW, to just live with no worries, no
regrets and to just simply trust.
Lord help me today to just
simply be still and to
know that you are
GOD!

Happy Sunday and
be blessed!

Crazy Days of Summer Photo Challenge

I found my way over to Project Alicia Blog today
and decided to participate in her Crazy days of SUMMER
weekly photo challenge.
This week's theme is flowers.
I thought I could use this magnolia picture
that I shot last month.
Head on over there and give it a shot!