Things I though today...or technically yesterday...

I can't sleep...which is a big bummer considering my allergies seem to be starting to turn into a pressure building sinus thing...I guess that is what happens when you don't stop doing things (blogging, searing a roast to put in the crock pot...) until it is late already! My head is full of things that I can't stop thinking about so I though maybe if I got them out of my head I could sleep. So here goes:

1. Am I too fat to run a 5k? I mean I know it won't be record time or anything but by my birthday (May 31st) could I run a 5k at my pace without stopping and walking? I am going to do it. I am not going to go sign up for one. I am going to have my own. I will map it out and have my own race. With whoever wants to cheer me on and/or run it with me. Tina, you guys maybe here that weekend. You want to run or cheer me on at the finish line?

2. Will Jake go to a college close by or far a way?

3. (Do not be offended by what I am about to say if you have ever used U-Scan and had problems with it. It is a machine and all machines have flaws that make it tricky sometimes. This is not in any way directed toward you. That is my disclaimer...Seriously no one I know falls into the category of people that I am getting ready to talk about. The people I am talking about in this section are people who use U-Scan and think the machine and Bi-Lo are out to get them...) I like my job, but I hate U-Scan. Why is the U-Scan so hard for people to use? We just got one at Bi-Lo and I am not a fan. I used to like to use them at Walmart before I was a cashier. Maybe it is because it was my destiny to be a cashier that I could figure out how to use it. (that was sarcasm just in case you couldn't tell) Or maybe it is because I can read and follow directions and use common sense. Now that I occasionally have to be the one standing there watching people use U-Scan and fixing their problems, I am shocked at the amount of people that can not follow some very basic steps. I really wonder how these people make it through the day! I understand U-Scans are quirky and act up-but when the screen says to touch this button to start, you probably aren't going to be able to start until you actually touch it. It makes for a long day when you have to stand there and watch people not be able to follow the directions. I understand that it is a new thing to some people but if you are already grumpy and not prone to wanting to do anything for yourself you should probably go stand in line...And if you can't read (which is really very sad and I feel for you) don't try and do it yourself. I had to fish a quarter out of the place where you insert your $ bills because a lady didn't see the place for the change...It is maybe 1 inch below where you put your bills. I also had a women try to put her Bi-Lo bonus card in the place where the bills go. And another tried to put a credit card where the bills go...People don't understand that the same automated voice that tells them to put the item they just scanned in the bag before scanning your next item knows you haven't put it in yet because where the bags are is a scale. So, that means if you put it in the bag and then immediately pick up the whole bag and put it back in your cart before you pay and then the voice tells you to put it back...it isn't the machine (or my) fault that it is telling you to put it back. It is still on a scale and it thinks you are stealing it BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T PAID YET! I have seen people have the same thing happen seriously 15 times and they sigh like the machine is acting up every time! Even though the machine is telling them the problem and I have very politely told them the problem-they still think it is the machine!!! Another reason it is acting up is because you are letting your child climb all over that scale and the poor machine can't understand why all the sudden your groceries went from 15 pounds to 60 in a matter of seconds! I am sorry you have a shopping cart full of produce with no codes on it and you don't know the codes and you are all upset about it. That is why they pay cashiers and why if you have a buggy full of 25 varieties of produce you should probably not have come to the U-Scan! And yes mam I can see that you don't have any more room to put the stuff you are scanning...That is because this is not supposed to be for a shopping cart full of groceries to last you a month. This is where you come when you have a FEW items and don't feel like waiting in line with the people that have HUGE amounts of food like you do. ...Okay I am done venting! I really do like my job. I love having regulars come through my line just so they can talk to me. I love knowing that the sisters from New York are going to come together and use their coupons. And the cute older lady will wear her jean jumper with an American flag on it every Friday to grocery shop because one of the baggers mentioned he like it. I love the mom that comes a couple times a week with her little boy and they always use the little shopping cart we have for children. That is the fun part. The U-Scan...not so much!

4. Who are they going to get to replace Simon on American Idol? I guess it doesn't really matter since the show won't last with out him.

5. It is supposed to be hot tomorrow...I hate putting on make up and doing my hair and sweating it all off before I even get to church. Then walking in the bathroom after Sacrament meeting, looking in the mirror and not believing THAT is how you have looked for the past hour...

6. Is my brain empty enough to sleep yet?

7. Why do old hardwood floors squeak even more when you are trying to be quiet?

8. I am seriously going to to to Sonic this week and buy a bag of ice. They actually sell there ice. This sounds bad but we call it rabbit turd ice. You know that small ice that is so fun to just eat like a snack?

9. They have a bag of just the rye chips from those chex mix type snack stuff (it starts with a "g" I think-the brand I am talking about...)! That is totally the best part!

10. I wonder how old Jake will be when he is taller than me...

11. I hope I can go to sleep now that I have emptied my brain...

The Kitchen (some how this turned in to a long post..consider yourself warned!)

I really love Mom's (and Dad's-I know it is his too but it really is so my moms style!) kitchen. It is soooo pretty! I love that you feel the charm of the age of the house. They really knew how to make the most of space back then...How old is your house any way Mom? I am sure you will comment and answer that question! :)I love that Grampa Smith (Mom's father) come down from Vermont for a "vacation" and that he put the glass in the cabinets. It is perfect! I love that the window is over the sink and looks out to the "secret garden". I love thinking about how Jake took baths in that sink when he was a little guy! It is really just a cozy, warm kitchen.

It is kind of interesting because me and my mom are a lot a like, in a lot of ways-but our decorating styles are different. I LOVE the way she decorates and I think she likes the way I decorate too. Our homes growing up(I really only remember 2-Lebanon, New Hampshire and Charlotte-there where a couple of more but I was too little to remember!), were always comfortable and livable AND beautifully decorated. I think that is a hard balance, but I try to do the same thing. The funny part is that as different as our tastes are my things fit in Mom's house and match the wallpaper and paint very well! In the living room (you can't tell from the picture-the lighting wasn't great...sorry) her wall color is very close to the curtains and pillows I had in our house in Fletcher. My kitchen things match her wallpaper beautifully! What can I say-Great minds think a like! I love you Mom! We are so glad that while you and Dad are a way on your mission your beautiful home is our home. Even though you are across the country, it feels like you are right here with us. Taking care of your house for you was perfect timing for both of us....Enough of my rambling-here are the pictures to prove Mom's kitchen is gorgeous and my stuff looks pretty good in it! :)

I just love my Southern Living-Gail Pittman pitcher (a Christmas gift from Mom a couple of years ago), platter (got it free for hosting a part), and vase/pitcher (did you give me that too Mom?...did I get it as another hostess perk? I know I didn't pay for it...). How cute are the little shelves? See my garlic hanging? I roasted garlic for the first time a couple of weeks ago...don't know why I have never done it before. It was yummy.

...Yep. I actually took pictures...It just smelt so good-I needed a picture memory to remind me of the smell of first roasted garlic!

...And here is another one of it on another Southern Living ("Tuscan Tidbit" to be exact) plate. I had a couple of friends who sold "Southern Living At Home" and when they had a party and someone didn't take advantage of the cheap perks of ordering so much (if you order a certain amount of product you can add on things for CHEAP...I guess rich people don't need things for cheap so they would often not bother use the extra discount..), they would let me use the discount and add on things here and there. It is nice to know the right people...I knew a lot of them in Asheville...I need to find those kind of people here in the Charlotte area....


This is a wonderful cook book from the Junior League in Spartanburg. Good thing it is pretty enough to display too! Two of my favorite aunt's had the (...what would you call it-container? I'll go with ceramic container-that sounds better.) ceramic container made when Jake was born. I love it so much. What a great gift for a baby being born don't you think?! I love wooden spoons can you tell? I should have taken pictures of the cool spoons Papa Harmon (Aaron's dad) made me...I will have to save that for another post...

My beloved Southern Living serving bowl. I really LOVE it. Especially since I got it for free too, just for hosting a Southern Living party...It makes me love it even more, considering it was like $65 or something crazy like that!...And I love the glass containers filled with flour and sugar to make it look like I bake more than I really do...(I make rolls!). My sister gave me those when they left for Mexico...or Uruguay (it is pretty sad that you lived there for almost 3 years and I still had to use spell check because I couldn't remember how to spell it...I should have written you more...) and I love them. They are from Ikea. I love that store. Tina, you are back in the good old USA now...you don't want them back do you?...



My favorite view of the kitchen...sigh...Isn't it soooo pretty? Just in case you are wondering I don't usually leave my crock pot out. I am getting ready to cook a Big roast on low all night for dinner tomorrow (and to shred up and "food saver" it and put some in the freezer. Yes, I know that isn't correct grammar but I am sure by this point that is of no surprise to anyone reading this)...Yummy. I may even use that flour and make some rolls...Great I am going to make a mess again...

I cheated on Bi-Lo...

..I couldn't help it! Harris Teeter has TRIPLE COUPONS this week! Thanks to Elizabeth (you've seen her in pictures before), Pandora (one of my managers), and all the countless women who come into Bi-Lo with their binders of coupons, I have started "couponing". Have I mentioned that before? I can't remember since I have spent the last week catching up with the past almost 3 months...Any way I am really loving it! I even sold some online (Elizabeth posted them and I clipped them!)! Yes people buy them...It is crazy. I was so excited because this was my first experience with triple couponing (I know that isn't a word but it is on this blog...), and I did pretty good. I saved about $70 and got several things for free and even more for just a few cents. And yes of course I took pictures...Aaron just asked me if I was blogging about how messy the house is. Is that a hint or something?
This is my binder. Isn't is so pretty and organized? I found a Franklin Covey binder and organizer on sale over a year ago (the pages weren't dated) at Sam's Club for less than $20. The coupons under my phone are of the items I already found and I pulled the coupons to remind myself to use them. I am working on this being our home organization binder. It has a section (well it has some of this and I am working on the others...) for school, church, house work schedule,phone numbers, bills, taxes, etc. Basically if the house is burning down we will grab this and go.

These are just a few of the deals I got:
This rice was 4 cents.

This butter was free.

And so was this!

These bagel thins were 40 cents.

It is a great feeling getting such good deals on things you need anyway! I also got French's mustard for free, Bird's Eye Steam Fresh Bagged Veggies for 5o cents, whole wheat Ortega tortilla's for free, Some saffron rice for free, Scott's flushable wipes for free...Okay, I think you get the picture! It was awesome!

Our room, Jake's room, and the living room...

I had the day off on Monday and I was doing my usual tornado clean up after the weekend. Is it like that at your house over the weekend? The house can start off looking great on Friday but when Monday rolls around and everyone is back to school and/or work you look around and wonder when the tornado actually hit. Before me is always a disaster. It's not like there is dirt and grime...just 4 pairs of socks around the living room...or a couple (hundred) of Jake's action figures randomly placed in every room in the whole house...or dishes all rinsed (hopefully...) and ready to go in the dishwasher that just needs to be emptied to fill it up again! Yep that is my usual Monday. This week was worse because I worked Thursday-Sunday..Need I say more? Let's just say we didn't go into the weekend looking great... Any way back to the original reason for this post. My mom and dad's house is full of charm and character and our stuff looks good in it! I took a few pictures just to remind myself of how nice it is when it is all tidy and picked up...even if it only lasts for 1/2 day...Until Aaron gets home from school and changes and leaves his clothes on the floor next to his side of the bed...until Jake goes into his room to read and decides to pull out his old Halloween costumes in his dress up bin and comes out dressed up like Obi Won Kenobi (who rocks by the way)...Or I decide to cut out coupons and half way through the project realize it is time to make dinner...Or I blog instead of picking up...(Yes I admit it I am a large part of the problem.)This is one of those brief moments that you just stand and look at how pretty it is, if only but for a moment.
Our quilt doesn't really match the wall color but I don't care. I like it there.

Jake's science project is in the window because he isn't ready to get rid of it and I was sick of vacuuming around it.

From the other side. Notice the awesome "robot box" we made in one of the bins.

Our living room...

Saku if you are standing behind your mother while she is at the computer look away...

Bi-Lo is a great place to find bargain books. I found this awesome book for one of my awesome nephews Saku. He is 6...wow is he really 6 already? Where the heck does the time go?! Anyway...I am getting an early start on Christmas (I used to shop a little all year and I am starting that again! We are on a tight budget people!) and I found a very cool book at Bi-Lo (in a random box of books...I am going to go digging in it again and see if I can find more gifts) that was only...are you ready for this? It was 75% OFF THE STICKER PRICE $3.99!!! (all the books in the box are 75% off the already LOW price!) It is this cool book about dinosaurs and asks questions like-did dinosaurs blush? It is really a fun book and I know he will love it. And I love a deal!

Trying to repay an AWESOME compliment, but it backfired...

So, I come home on Sunday after working all day (for the 4th day straight and yep I have to work on Sunday every now and then, it's kind of a bummer.), and the house was a mess. Aaron did unload the dishwasher just like I asked him to though. That was about the only clean surface in the house...Aaron was really craving some cookies and he reminded me how mine are the best ever (yeah right, he just didn't want to make them) and maybe I could make some...Not what I felt like doing at all. But then I thought back to a compliment-the best one ever, in my whole life-that he gave me a few weeks ago. Let me take you back to that moment. I had to work one evening and got home later than usual. That is when Aaron told me he was going to figure something out because he didn't want me to have to work. Here is the best compliment ever, in the history of the world...are you ready? He said he wanted me to stay at home because, and I quote: "it is just better when you are here." Simple words that seriously spoke to my soul as a mother and homemaker. Even though I sometimes leave the clean clothes folded in the basket rather than putting them in the dresser, it is better when I am here. Even though I am notorious for waiting until 5:29 to figure out what is for dinner at 5:30, it is better when I am here. Wow. You mean what I do is important? I always thought is was...well hoped it was...really I just hoped someone would notice I scrubbed the toilet! And guess what they do. They notice. And they miss it....Any way since he said that and when I have the energy I try to be the wife and mother and homemaker I always wanted to be. So, after Jake went to sleep I started making cookies. The kitchen was already a mess and I made more of a mess. See, I even took a picture..after the bad part of the story took place. (For documentations purposes...to show the effort was there...)

I felt so good. I was making it better because I was home! They came out looking a little different than they usually do, but no problem cookies never really look the same. Then Aaron excitedly ate one. And he made a face...Not a good face either. He said they didn't taste right...they tasted..floury. I looked at the bag of flour I found at the back of the top cabinet, because the container it is usually kept in is empty...The flour expired in in September of 2008...I will try to "make it better when I am here" again once the house is back in order and I have the energy...for now I am going with-it's the thought that counts!

Aaron living the dream..well sort of...

Living the dream would probably be more like playing in the game he got to go to, but that is a whole other story! We have a wonderful friend who just got a job at Time Warner Cable-way to go Elizabeth! In case you don't know the Charlotte Bobcats (if you are really not a sports fan you may not know that is the name of Charlotte's professional basketball team..you know in the NBA) play in the Time Warner Arena...Are you seeing where I am going with this? I am talking CHEAP tickets to the first ever playoff game in Charlotte-for the Bobcats...The Hornets were in the playoffs too when they were still in Charlotte (sigh..I miss them). By the way I went to the very first NBA playoff game in Charlotte EVER. It was when the Hornets played the Celtics and kicked there butts and it was a LONG time ago. Anyway, Aaron and Norb were able to get CHEAP tickets to the game and they were like little kids in a candy store! Unfortunately the Bobcats lost in the end, but only by a little. Aaron was a very happy camper just to be able to go! He got a free t-shirt, prowl towel and a lanyard.

On another note Jake came home from school the other day and said his friend Jayden asked him if Aaron played in the NBA. I guess Jake was telling him how he plays basketball (2 or 3 times a week...plus Aaron has been to school functions and is usually one of the taller people at 6'2") and he just assumed he was a professional. Aaron seemed to like that a lot...That would really be living the dream. But going to the game works too!