Celebrating and Vegetating

If the perfect weekend is a nice mix of activity and relaxation, I think we nailed it.

Friday night we headed to say Bon Voyage to some friends moving to NYC. We arrived purposefully late to the surprise party, so as not to show up at the same time as the guests of honor. As luck would have it, we ran into them walking in. Perfect.

We had a great time seeing some friends from out of town and eating some buffalo chicken dip. This is one of my favorite things to eat. If you haven't had it, you should google it asap. You can google 'crack dip' and it will be the first thing that pulls up. No joke - try it.

In the meantime, Matt's good friend Cal was busy popping the question. Seven years in the making, it deserved a celebration of its own, so we left and met up with the newly engaged couple for a drink.

Bride to be on the right!

We made it out for one more stop and ran into a few more friends.

After an uncharacteristically late night, Saturday was a bit more geriatric. We did some grocery shopping at Publix (I spent $19 this week, saved $30, Matt spent $60 saved $30, in case you were wondering), picked up a movie from the Blockbuster kiosk, and then did a lot of this. I think I spent a lot of Sunday thinking how heavenly it was.

Yes, that is a Golden Girls t-shirt that says "Stay Golden". A good friend got me that when my house FINALLY sold. It's a prized possesion. Especially since The Girls are dropping like flies.

Mint Chocolate brownie ice cream, fiancee and the dog child in close vicinity. Great day!

Sunday was a few of our favorite things - chinese buffet, pool time, and Surin leftovers. Sure makes coming back to work tougher than usual!

Pregnant and bulimic

I am neither one of those things. But some people are, and it makes for some interesting TV.

Last night was the return of an MTV classic - Teen Mom.


Will Ryan get his act together? Will Catelynn and Tyler get married? How much fake tanner will Amber use this season? All questions awaiting answers Tuesdays at 10/9 central.

Speaking of teenagers making bad decisions, there was a great movie our gym teacher in high school made us watch concerning anorexia and bulimia (way to kill two birds with one stone, Lifetime) - A Secret Between Friends. It became an instant hit in our class. I'm not sure that was the point, but I digress.

After watching the latest world premiere Lifetime movie with my best friend Monday night (I warned you I like bad TV), we got to thinking about Lexi and Jen, and did a little research and found the WHOLE MOVIE ON YOUTUBE. If I didn't have a bed time, I probably would have stayed and watched all of it.

If you went to high school with me, this should take you back.

Who can forget, "Don't you get it?!? I HATE you! I never want to see you again, OK?!?!"

That Jen was a real piece of work. And their matching monogrammed lunch boxes that held celery and rice cakes? The movie was practically a how to for eating disorders.

Might need to read a book tonight.

Stroll through the Park

It's been rather hot here lately.

But sometimes, when it's not quite as steamy, we like to go walking. Namath reluctantly tags along leads the way.

So we were pretty excited when we found out a new park was being built just a couple of blocks from our new apartment. While I was downtown Sunday, I was able to take some pictures of the progress.

Can't you see him running without abandon, playing fetch and mingling with other dogs?

Yeah, me neither.

But a little green grass and open space in the concrete jungle will be good for man and beast alike.

Thumbs up for city development!

This and that

This weekend was a little all over the map. Friday night we made the weekly Publix run. I spent $35 and saved $25. I'm getting close to saving as much as I'm spending, but not quite there yet. But $60 worth of groceries for $35 - I'll take it. I had every intention of taking a picture of my purchases, but ripping them open and eating them won out.

While we waited for dinner to cook, we caught some Dog Whisperer. Episode: "Cesar's most difficult cases". So what if the first half hour were all bulldogs?

Namath was unimpressed and maybe a little embarrassed.

Saturday we headed to Macy's to finish registering. We celebrated crossing off another to do on the wedding check list with a little dessert.

We met the Searsons Saturday night for dinner and to go over guest lists and some other wedding details (maybe this weekend does have a theme?). Right as I began discussing with my future in laws who we would invite to watch us pledge our lives to each other, my dress fell off. Like, literally snapped. I held it together while Matt ran to the car to search out a solution.

Yes, that would be a zip tie you see holding my dress up.

Therefore, I think this picture needs no explanation.

I was a trooper and we met some friends out afterwards for drinks. Of course I ran into someone I graduated with, that I hadn't seen since, well, graduation. Perfect. I normally don't piece my clothes together with plastic. Promise.

Me and The Don.

Matt headed out of town Sunday for work, so I went to an art show and auction downtown a co-worker was participating in.

I'm sure these random people appreciated me taking their picture.

Hope you had a great weekend too!

Perspective

I mentioned we had our last counseling session Wednesday night. The subject: finances.

Full steam ahead

Wedding planning. It's as stressful as you make it, I think.

Procrastination=stress for this girl, so I hit the ground running back in April and got all the major stuff done pretty quickly. We took a nice little break to enjoy sister's wedding festivities and her big day and now that it's come and gone (time is flying), it's time to get moving again. There are invitations to order, registries to complete, guests lists to finalize, centerpieces, flowers....I'll stop here before my breathing becomes labored.

After a long discussion with the invitation lady about appropriate and inappropriate monograms and a counseling session on finances, we decided to spend some time on something more lighthearted -drinking some beer and researching rehearsal video songs on You Tube. After getting sucked into multiple "Father of the Bride" clips (I have GOT to watch that movie again soon. Did anyone else have a huge crush on Brian McKinnzey?) we ran across this gem.

Tell me this doesn't bring back some hard core TGIF memories.




Jesse and Rebecca. What a fantastic couple.

As stressful as you make it, I tell you. Off to make some major lists for the items listed above.

Almost the weekend folks!

Winner, winner

I'm determined to learn this drugstore and grocery store game. After seeing it on blogs for what seems like years, I was determined that I could figure this out. I can't make smocked clothes or homemade marshmallows or my own jam, but surely I could get a deal on some toothpaste.

Last night I ended up running to all 3 drugstores, which was a little much, but I'll say that they are all located just a few blocks from each other, so it was worth it because I got some great deals and I'm done for the week. And my teeth will be clean for months to come.

Here was the loot: (not pictured, 2 Oral-B pulsar toothbrushes)

CVS:

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Shampoo and conditioner. Normally $8.99 each

On sale for 2/$10 with $5 extra care bucks back (this was already a GREAT deal on this shampoo, and it's really the only kind I like, so I might have to work this transaction again.)

Oral B Pulsar toothbrushes: Normally $5.99/each

On Sale 2/$5

Used :

(2) $2.50 off John Frieda coupons

(2) $2 off Oral B Pulsar coupons

$5 Extra Care bucks from last visit

Paid: $1.40

Saved: $28.60

Received: $5 Extra Care Bucks

Rite-Aid:
Crest Extra White Plus Scope Outlast – $2.49 Get $2.49 SCR Used $0.75/1 - FREE

Crest 3D White Mouth Rinse (237 ml) – $2.99 Get $2 SCR Used $1/1 coupon - FREE

Crest 3D Toothpaste – $2.99 Get $2 SCR Used $1/1 coupon - FREE

Paid: $6.95 - Will receive rebate for $7.68

Actually made .73 cents on this transaction!

Walgreens:

(2) Right Guard for men - BOGO at $3.99 each

Used: $3/2 Right Guard coupon

Paid: $1.33

Total Spent: $2.14

Saved: $42

I think I won the game this week! Next week is looking pretty good at CVS too. Maybe I'll use my savings to buy a sewing machine and some canning equipment. Don't count on it though.